Frazer defends Saudi trade mission amid ‘art washing’ concerns

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has defended UK efforts to capitalise on opportunities for businesses in Saudi Arabia following a meeting with the kingdom's Tourism Minister.

Her meeting with Ahmed Al Khateeb coincides with a visit to the kingdom by leaders of UK arts and culture organisations – including the Royal Opera and Ballet, the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre – as part of the government-backed Great Futures trade mission.

Concerns have been raised that the visit and any potential deals that arise from it could represent "art washing" amid concerns on the kingdom's track record on human rights and its stance on same sex relationships. But Frazer has said the UK can, through engagement and relationship building, "support positive social change" in the country.

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The aim of the visit is to capitalise on business opportunities presented by Saudi "giga-projects" – a collection of 14 major projects backed with $3 trillion of investment – by enhancing economic relations between the two sides in "various promising sectors".

Ahead of summit, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, also attending, said: “Great Futures will be an important moment for British business. We’re opening up our markets to one another so that investment, exports, tourism and collaboration flow in both directions. Britain doesn’t just endorse Vision 2030, we want to be a part of it.”

But Amnesty International has said "the reality behind such futuristic projects is the brutal repression of citizens and residents".

Claims were made last week that Saudi authorities have permitted the use of lethal force to clear land for a £400bn futuristic city called The Line.

There are also concerns about the kingdom's record on gay rights. Same-sex sexual activity between men and between women as well as gender expression of trans people are all against the law.

Speaking to Middle East Eye last week, James Lynch, Co-founder of Fair Square, which campaigns for workers' rights in the Gulf, questioned whether the heads of UK cultural institutions involved in the conference were ignoring their own ethical policies by attending the event.

But, in an interview with The Times, Frazer said that the government was right not to cancel the visit.

“The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have raised human rights with their Saudi counterparts and we regularly raise concerns with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels,” she said.

“But I think it’s through engagement and through relationship building that we’re able to influence change.

“If we are a key partner we can be at the forefront of that change and I think our supporting relationship will be beneficial to them and to us since we are really keen to support positive social change in Saudi Arabia. I think there is a huge advantage both diplomatically, economically and culturally for us to be at the forefront of that.”

'Very keen to help'

Frazer added that societal change in the kingdom has created huge opportunities for the UK’s cultural sector, pointing to the relaxation around the rules on music played in public and families now “sitting together in cinemas to watch Barbie” since the country’s first cinema opened in 2018.

“Tourism, the creative industries, cultural heritage and sport are all areas where the Saudis are making significant investment in their people and infrastructure in order to make progress as a country. They recognise that there’s a lot to learn from the UK, and we’re very keen to help them on that journey,” she said.

According to The Times, Historic Britain has agreed a partnership deal to advise its counterpart on the restoring of ancient palaces, while Visit Britain is signing a declaration of intent with the Saudi Tourism Authority for a “knowledge exchange”.

In a statement posted on X following the meeting Frazer said: "Few countries on earth have changed more than Saudi Arabia in the past decade & those changes have opened up massive opportunities for tourism partnerships."