The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) launched the Alsharqiya Gets Creative initiative which welcomed the participation of the National Development Association in Al Qatif. The initiative supported designers and architects to share their artistic skills and diverse concepts in architecture, Arabic calligraphy, film and theater. These fields share similarities in the art and design field, giving them their unique outcomes. From an event targeting architects and city developers, the Architecture and Design Group, under the supervision of engineer Maryam Al Awwa, revived the Smart Lighting (Hackathon) initiative, in addition to the Site Development Challenge which ignited the spirit of competition for the aim of developing the city center and reviving the economy. Moreover, other programs were adopted, including: turning archaeological sites to tourist attractions in an effort to revive the province's economy, Aa interactive path with artificial intelligence, and interactive models; all targeting all ages to direct creativity towards the future. From October 30 to November 18, 2022, the events held during Alsharqiya Gets Creative initiative also included several workshops. The fine arts group organized the Taqasim exhibition, which showcased multiple paintings and explored various topics. Taqasim also featured a plastic art exhibit titled Fawasel by the artists Iman Al Jishi and Mahdia Al Talib. Lastly, art workshops targeted for children were presented by the artist Souad Wakhik. The cinema group held workshops titled Young Actors which targeted talents ages 8 to 16 who were passionate in film and visual arts. The workshops supported their dreams and helped carry their talents to a world full of excitement and growth. The cinema group also held workshops focused on directing while creating a cinematic scene, news reporting, and editing. The photography group organized a series of different art programs, including Processing Monochrome Images and Introduction to Graphic Design.
