VENICE/LONCON: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi minister of culture and governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, has concluded his official visit to Italy. Throughout his trip, he engaged in discussions with prominent Italian cultural figures, aiming to strengthen cooperation and foster cultural exchanges between the two countries. During the visit, the Saudi minister convened with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano. They delved into strategies to strengthen cooperation and deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries. The pair praised noteworthy cultural initiatives and projects that unfolded in 2023 across diverse spheres including heritage preservation, fashion, music, museum exhibitions, architectural innovation, design, and visual arts. During this week’s trip, Prince Badr visited the Saudi Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, hosted at the Arsenale center, which was showcasing Manal AlDowayan’s “Shifting Sands: A Battle Song.” AlDowayan’s work illuminates the evolving role of Saudi women in the public sphere, and their efforts to redefine both their physical spaces and the narratives surrounding them. Prince Badr also explored the “Journeys in Land Art: Towards Wadi AlFann, AlUla” exhibition, which serves as an introduction to the Kingdom’s culturally and historically rich region of AlUla. It also features work by AlDowayan alongside exhibits by Agnes Denis, Michael Heizer, Ahmed Mater, and James Turrell, and includes photographs and video presentations. The exhibition runs until April 30, and will host discussion panels on topics such as land art, art in public spaces, visitor experiences, museum curation, and the interplay of art and archaeology, offering a range of perspectives.