Abstract

This article examines the subtle variations and contradictions of artistic censorship at the hands of museum organizations and government authorities in contemporary Saudi Arabia. In 2018, the Saudi government established a new department, the General Authority for Culture, concerned with culture and visual arts. This government authority provides cultural policies that co-exist with the religious authority and avoid any conflict that may result in censorship. This approach to cultural development necessitates the existence of an appropriate production of cultural events that can be presented, regulated, and approved or permitted by the government on the one hand and the reactions of the society towards some of the exhibits on the other hand. Additionally, there is an absence of clear governmental policies that address controversy. The subtle variations and contradictions of artistic censorship through museum organizations and government authorities within Saudi Arabia are explored through this research.