Ahlam Al Thunyan: "Diriyah for the Novel" provides an opportunity to be part of the world's narratives

The Diriyah Novel Festival returned with its second edition as part of the programs of "Diriyah Season 25/26", to continue its presence as a literary platform that celebrates narrative and its arts in the heart of the historic Al-Bjiri neighborhood, which has long been a cultural, literary, and social hub, and a cradle of human civilization on the banks of Wadi Hanifa.. To discuss the details of the festival and its role in enhancing Diriyah's presence as a global cultural destination, "Al Riyadh" interviews the Director of Diriyah Season, Ms. Ahlam Al Thunyan, who reveals the features of the new experience of the festival and its vision in empowering narrative creativity..

1-What distinguishes the Diriyah Novel Festival in its second edition, and how does it reflect its connection to Al-Bjiri neighborhood and its cultural specificity?

In fact, the festival this year derives its identity from its connection to the place, as Al-Bjiri neighborhood has been a center of knowledge and a meeting point for scholars and thinkers since the establishment of the first Saudi state. Reviving this role today through a contemporary literary festival gives the experience a clear cultural depth, and makes the narrative present in a place that has long lived with oral stories and novels, which increases visitors' connection to Diriyah's heritage, and turns literary experiences into a space that extends from the authenticity of the place to the creativity of the present.

2- But, this year's festival features an expansion in programs and activities, how does this expansion reflect on the quality of the experience for visitors?

The basic idea behind this diversity is to make the narrative a living experience that the public can live in various forms, so we have ensured to provide interactive spaces that give each visitor their own way to engage with the story, as some are attracted to workshops, dialogue sessions, lectures, and inspiring evenings, while others prefer direct interaction. This diversity in general opens the door to different categories of the public ("readers, those interested in writing, and those seeking inspiration"), even visitors who are experiencing their first narrative experience. We believe that everyone has a story, and the festival is designed to give everyone the opportunity to discover their voice within the world of creativity, with the participation of experts and writers specialized in narrative from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.

We have also ensured to introduce new interactive experiences that give visitors the opportunity to directly engage with the story, whether through "The Storyteller's Council" or recording personal stories or exploring hidden texts in "Diriyah Between the Lines". This diversity makes the visit more enriching, and allows each person to find what suits their interests, and live a comprehensive literary experience that combines learning, pleasure, and discovery.

3- How do the festival's activities contribute to empowering literary talents and honing the writing skills of participants?

Certainly, these activities are designed to be a training and knowledge space that allows literary talents to develop their narrative tools practically. We have ensured in "Diriyah Season" that the workshops and sessions include a selection of writers and specialists who have extensive experience in novel writing and its construction details. We have also focused on diversifying the content to include writing techniques, character building, plot development, and modern narrative methods, in addition to dialogue sessions that open the field for exchanging experiences directly with the speakers. What distinguishes the experience this year is that participants not only receive knowledge, but live it in an interactive context that enhances their confidence in their creative abilities, and gives them the opportunity to launch into broader paths in the world of the novel.

4- What role do the festival's experiences play in redefining the public's relationship with the narrative?

These experiences are designed to make the public a partner in the narrative process, not just a recipient. In "The Storyteller's Council", we open a daily space for different stories told in ways close to the audience, and in "Tell Us a Story", we give visitors the opportunity to record their personal stories and memories in a peaceful environment that respects the privacy of the experience. As for "Who is the Storyteller?", it relies on the element of surprise and discovery, through hidden title books that encourage reading new works without prior influences.

5- So, there are goals that the festival highlights through these experiences?

Exactly, the goal of these experiences is to expand the concept of narrative itself, to become a social act in which people interact with each other, and with the stories they carry. This participation gives the public a sense that everyone has a story worth telling, which strengthens the relationship between society and the novel in a deep and natural way.

6- With this diverse presence of programs and experiences, how do you see the festival's impact on the status of the Saudi novel, and its role in supporting new voices in narrative arts?

Yes, the festival provides an important opportunity for the Saudi novel to be part of a global dialogue about the narrative, and through the presence of writers and specialists from different cultures, and many workshops and sessions that deal with novel writing and its development. Here, we are working to create an inspiring environment that encourages Saudi talents to present their works, and allows them to explore various narrative schools. The direct interaction between writers and the public also gives new voices a space to appear, and enhances their confidence in writing. This is what we aspire to, that the festival be a platform for narrative arts and storytelling, and open wider horizons for young writers, and connect them to a broader world of experiences and creative techniques.

7- In light of this wide cultural movement, what role do you aspire for the Diriyah Novel Festival to play in the long term in the literary scene within the Kingdom and beyond?

Undoubtedly, we aspire for the Diriyah Novel Festival to be one of the leading literary platforms in the region, and to contribute to making the relationship between the public and the narrative more interactive. The goal in the long term for us is to build a vibrant cultural community, that finds in literature a space for dialogue, communication, and exchange of experiences, while empowering Saudi talents to take their natural place in the global literary scene. We work to make the festival a meeting point between local creativity and international experiences, and to reflect the cultural status that Diriyah, and Al-Bjiri neighborhood in particular, deserves, as a global center of knowledge.