Dhahran: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative by Aramco, has announced the launch of the Khoos Initiative, a cultural project dedicated to celebrating and reimagining the ancient craft of palm weaving. This initiative aims to connect artisans and local communities in the Eastern Region with audiences and creatives worldwide.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Khoos Initiative presents palm weaving as both a living heritage and a source of future innovation, linking centuries-old traditions with contemporary practices rooted in Saudi date-palm oases. Noura Alzamil, Head of Programs at Ithra, explained that the initiative supports efforts to integrate heritage and crafts into contemporary practice. It seeks to create opportunities that unite artists, artisans, and designers, expand the reach of local crafts regionally and globally, and foster sustainable and innovative approaches in the craft sector.
Palm weaving, one of the Kingdom's oldest crafts, involves weaving dried palm fronds into baskets, mats, and decorative items. It represents a cultural continuity and creativity passed down through generations within local communities. The Khoos Initiative places special emphasis on practitioners in Al-Ahsa Oasis, the world's largest date-palm oasis and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the craft is deeply interwoven with daily life and culture.
The program includes a residency scheduled from October 3 to 14 in Al-Ahsa and Ithra, where artists from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, Chile, and Bahrain will collaborate with palm weavers. This collaboration will facilitate knowledge exchange and exploration of innovative frameworks for the craft while preserving traditional methods. On October 9, Ithra will host a day dedicated to celebrating the Khoos Initiative, featuring the launch of the 'Baseqat' exhibition and a documentary screening titled 'Sa'afa,' which showcases the stories and lives of palm-weaving practitioners.
The 'Baseqat' exhibition will continue until March 2026, offering visitors an exploration of the culture and environmental heritage of the date palm. It will highlight aspects such as the oasis, roots, trunks, and dates, and demonstrate how the palm intersects with architecture, medicine, ritual, and craft through contemporary works by Saudi and international artists. The exhibition's centerpiece will be 'Palms in Eternal Embrace,' the winner of the Ithra Art Prize. Workshops and public programs will further engage audiences with palm weaving as a living tradition. The initiative plans to expand with new commissions in November 2025, in collaboration with the Heritage Commission, and strengthen local and international partnerships.
The initiative will also be announced alongside Ithra's participation in UNESCO Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona, through a panel on intangible cultural heritage featuring insights from artisans and practitioners. Ithra will present the Khoos Initiative at the ICOM General Conference in Dubai in November, broadening the discussion on crafts as systems of knowledge that sustain community continuity and cultural heritage.