Apr. 1 – An exchange in the name of art formalized just a few hours ago in Riyadh between the royal family of Saudi Arabia and the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, for a collaboration focusing on the conservation of Rome’s cultural heritage. The agreement comes after several preliminary meetings, held in past months in Rome, and provides for the establishment of a fund dedicated to the restoration of the monuments of Rome, financed by both the Saudi royal family and by private capital. The Capitoline administration committed, for its part, to organize exhibitions in Saudi Arabia for short periods of time of selected works. In this case, the aim is to bring Roman cultural heritage to the Persian Gulf, as it has already happened for the Galata Morente, lent to the Washington DC National Gallery for 100 days. In the meetings held in Riyadh, Marino gave the Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, a file containing a list of monuments and archaeological sites that the Capitol aims to restore. “The agreement is of great value to us, as it allows to combine fund raising for the preservation of our cultural heritage and promote Rome around the world – said the mayor of Rome – I thank the royal family of Saudi Arabia for having understood and supported our revitalizing strategy, which goes primarily to the enhancement of Rome’s priceless archaeological heritage. I also hope this agreement is only the first step of a long and fruitful collaboration.”
Rome – Saudi Arabia trade in the name of art
