Cultural Memory Center Attends Int'l Conference on Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia

The international conference “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia” was held in Paris on April 29 and 30
The international conference “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia” was held in Paris on April 29 and 30
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Cultural Memory Center Attends Int'l Conference on Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia

The international conference “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia” was held in Paris on April 29 and 30
The international conference “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia” was held in Paris on April 29 and 30

The Saudi Cultural Memory Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, participated in the two-day international conference “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia,” held in Paris on April 29.

The event was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Kingdoms Institute Platform for the Promotion of Documentary Heritage.
At the conference, the center’s national pavilion highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in preserving documentary heritage and promoting accessibility for enthusiasts and researchers. It also showcased two new typefaces launched by the Ministry of Culture: Al-Awwal Typeface and Saudi Typeface.
The center emphasized its ongoing efforts to preserve national documentary heritage through pioneering projects aligned with the UNESCO Memory of the World Program, which seeks to safeguard humanity’s documentary legacy and ensure its availability for future generations. The pavilion offered informative activities, including a dedicated area spotlighting the new typefaces as essential tools in preserving Saudi cultural identity and reflecting their historical and cultural importance.
The center also showcased its national initiative for cultural heritage documentation and digital archiving, a key project designed to preserve and record the national memory using top international standards across various regions of the Kingdom.
In addition, the center distributed the Cultural Heritage Documentation and Digital Archiving Guide to promote awareness of the importance of protecting documents and manuscripts. An interactive display featured touchscreen access to the “Cultural Hub” website and the digital platform supporting efforts to document and disseminate cultural heritage.



Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

As they painstakingly scrape grime off a monumental painting by French artist Gustave Courbet, the restorers do a remarkable job of ignoring their unusual surroundings: They're watched by crowds of people, many recording on mobile phones.

Paris' Orsay Museum has thrown open to the public a process that often happens behind closed doors.

The cleaning and repairs to "A Burial at Ornans," one of the museum's signature works that Courbet painted between 1849 and 1850, are taking place in a bespoke enclosure with windows for visitors to peer through.

"A great idea," said Jennifer Dasal, a visiting art historian from North Carolina. "If it’s lasting for a while, people can come back and they can watch the restoration over time."

The restoration is expected to take about a year. The painting hasn't had a major overhaul for about 50 years. Layers of varnish that yellowed over time have dulled Courbet's colors. The weight of the huge work has deformed its frame, and its canvas has stitching, folds and tears that need attention.

The museum also plans free guided tours of their work for those who register on its website, with three time slots every Thursday morning from June 5.

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