The Institute of Traditional Arts aims to preserve the local identity through teaching arts, contributing to the preservation and development of the Saudi heritage, graduating qualified practitioners, and using arts to raise awareness RIYADH: The minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, on Tuesday, adopted a plan to establish the Institute of Traditional Arts at the Royal Academy of Arts. The institute will begin receiving applications for the fall of 2020, targeting 1,000 students and trainees in long- and short-term programs. The Institute of Traditional Arts aims to preserve the local identity through teaching arts, contributing to the preservation and development of the Saudi heritage, graduating qualified practitioners, and using arts to raise awareness. The institute also aims to encourage artists through programs or partnership with relevant sectors. The institute is part of the Academies of Arts’ initiative, which was announced in the Ministry of Culture’s first package last March, and the among the quality of life program’s initiatives. The minister of culture announced last August that academies will be evaluated according to the market’s needs, with the first being specialized in heritage and traditional arts and crafts.