RIYADH: The Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium ended on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.It began in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter earlier this month, featuring the works of 23 artists from 18 different countries, and was held under the patronage of Prince Badr bin Abdullah, minister of culture and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of the Diplomatic Quarter. The artists came from Albania, Italy, Serbia, Germany, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Denmark, Spain, Slovenia, England, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.Dr. Fahd bin Mushayt, executive chairman of the General Authority of the Diplomatic Quarter, said: “The event’s importance lies in the diversity of nationalities taking part in it. This helped establish a suitable environment for cultural, expertise and experience exchange among some of the world’s most famous artists.“The holding of such artistic and cultural events contributes to the promotion of expertise, the development of capabilities and the sustainability of such artistic fields,” he said, adding that the symposium was in line with the authority’s recently adopted strategy to promote international cultural dialogue and local culture.The artists thanked the authority for the successful organization of the event.The symposium’s three Saudi participants were Ali Al-Toukhais, his nephew Talal Altukhaes, and Mohammad Althagafi.Altukhaes, who was an organizer as well as a participant, previously told Arab News that the goal of the symposium was to create an environment in which artists could share techniques, collaborate with one another, and promote a sense of camaraderie.The symposium was attended by students, experts and the ambassadors of the artists’ countries. Some visitors took part in the closing ceremony and were offered the opportunity to examine the sculptures and meet the artists.