RIYADH: Al-Ahsa representative Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shabaith secured the deputy head position at the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in crafts and folk arts. The city became a member of the network, which comprises 66 cities across the world, in the creative field following an initiative in 2015. This achievement, earned on account of the city’s rich culture and deep history in handicrafts and folk arts, came as part of a joint effort including input from Al-Ahsa Municipality, Al-Ahsa Governorate, the Culinary Arts Commission, the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the Heritage Commission and the Royal Institute for Traditional Arts. Al-Ahsa worked on developing, integrating and underlining the connection between education and cultural and creative activities to promote the sustainability of handicrafts and folk arts. The city also shared its expertise in preserving handicrafts and folk arts with other creative cities all over the world through various meetings and conferences held in South Korea, Poland, France, the US, Australia, and Brazil. Al-Ahsa is the first Gulf city, and the third in the Arab world, to join the network.