The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), in partnership with the Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, is launching the second edition of the Global Islamic Art Conference. The event, which will take place from November 25-30, 2024, corresponding to Jumada al-Awwal 23-28, 1446 AH, is a truly global gathering under the theme "In Praise of the Artisan: A New Evaluative Look at Contemporary Practice of Islamic Arts and Crafts." The conference will feature global and regional experts and speakers, making it a must-attend for anyone interested in Islamic arts and crafts worldwide.

The conference will coincide with opening an Islamic crafts exhibition in partnership with the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (Al-Sabah Collection) Museum in Kuwait. The exhibition will showcase some of the finest pieces from three valuable Gulf collections of Islamic art and feature the largest hand-carved stone screen made since the 17th-century Taj Mahal. It will also include eight specially commissioned works featuring large installations by leading artisans from Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and other rare and contemporary artifacts.

Eng. Abdullah Al-Rashid, Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), stated that "the Global Islamic Art Conference is a global platform for introducing Islamic arts and crafts. It aligns with Ithra's mission to support cultural heritage and emerging trends in Islamic arts and crafts through unique partnerships with prestigious cultural institutions locally and globally, as well as with academics and specialized experts. Ithra, in partnership with the Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, aims to highlight the significance of arts and crafts throughout the Islamic world."

Al-Rashid emphasized that the Global Islamic Art Conference and the Handicrafts Exhibition provide an interactive and immersive experience designed to attract and educate visitors at Ithra about Islamic handicrafts and artisans from the Middle East and beyond. The exhibition serves as a unique educational platform, exploring the rich history and diverse influences of Islamic arts and crafts. It presents valuable historical artifacts and contemporary works to highlight Islamic craftsmanship's evolving spirit and history.

Dr. Mashary Al-Naim, Secretary General of the Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, explained that "this conference aligns with the award's mission to address new ideas for mosque design worldwide, making the mosque a source of innovative planning, design, and technical ideas that can shape a new identity in Islamic art."

Al-Naim noted that Islamic art now considers artistic works and architecture as tangible creations in the context of work, crafts, and daily practices. Additionally, new initiatives and institutions have been established to preserve traditional craft skills through training and employment opportunities, including efforts to help artisans innovate, renew, find new markets, or adapt their work to global challenges.

The conference agenda includes a series of lectures, panel discussions, workshops, special exhibitions, film screenings, and practical demonstrations by artisans. This event offers a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of a wide range of Islamic crafts, the role of relationships and patronage in craft production, traditional materials and methods, and the use of crafts to stimulate social change in developing Islamic countries. Moreover, attendees will learn about the commendable work done by individuals and institutions in dealing with living craft traditions and artisans today, leaving them feeling informed and enlightened.

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