Painting & Patronage cultural project continues to build cultural bridges of artistic and educational understanding between the Arab world and the West
Gold Mercury International’s Deputy Secretary General H.E. Anthony Bailey OBE, Chairman of Painting & Patronage was appointed by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal at its launch in 1999 and is responsible for day-to-day execution and direction of the cultural initiative.
Painting & Patronage was established in Riyadh by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal is the Governor of Makkah Province. His Royal Highness is also a well known artist, poet and champion of the arts. The principal aim and activity of Painting & Patronage is to build and foster valuable bridges of cultural, artistic and educational understanding between the Arab world and the international community. Through doing so, the initiative aims to establish a higher and deeper level of appreciation and understanding of each other’s distinct and diverse cultures and traditions. Painting & Patronage seeks to further widen bilateral ties between the partner countries of the programmes.
In 2007 Painting & Patronage was honoured by being granted the High Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia (photo left). As an on-going royal initiative, Painting & Patronage is seeking to launch further exchange programmes with European, North and South American and Asian nations. In April 2010 HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal together with HRH The Prince of Wales announced a new 10th anniversary cultural and educational exchange programme between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. For more information please visit www.paintingandpatronage.com
Mr Bailey is active in promoting greater cultural, educational, inter-religious and trade ties between Europe and the Arab world. He is a HM Government Ministerial Task Force adviser on educational policy and also holds prominent positions with numerous charitable, inter-religious, educational, foreign affairs and European-Arab bilateral initiatives across the world. He is an adviser to the King Faisal Foundation and a Director of the British-Saudi Society in London.
Photo below: HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal presents HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom with a signed limited edition lithograph on the occasion of the British monarch’s visit to the Painting & Patronage exhibition held in London.
