Riyadh, March 22, 2025 – The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) hosted the 2025 "Storytellers" Suhoor, bringing together senior officials, leaders from the cultural and development sectors, entrepreneurs, and creators from various cultural fields. This gathering is part of the fund’s ongoing efforts to foster stronger connections within the cultural sector, discover new opportunities, and support the sector’s rapid momentum. As a key financial enabler, the CDF continues to play a crucial role in nurturing Saudi culture and sparking creativity.
The evening began with a keynote address by CDF Chief Executive Majed Al-Hogail, followed by remarks from representatives of the Elite Chefs Center, the team behind the "CHEFPreneur" program—one of the initiatives supported by the fund. The event also celebrated the achievements of 42 graduates from the program, recognizing their successful completion of the training journey.
The CHEFPreneur program is a specialized initiative designed to provide aspiring chefs with both culinary expertise and entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to launch their own projects and establish competitive businesses in the industry.
In line with its commitment to supporting the projects it has enabled, the CDF highlighted several beneficiary projects during the event, offering guests the opportunity to experience their creative outputs firsthand.
Held in a unique Ramadan atmosphere, the gathering featured cultural activities aligned with the Year of Handicrafts 2025. Guests participated in traditional craft activities such as prayer bead-making and henna art, while a special art exhibition showcased works by visual artist and craftswoman Naifah Alshahrani. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the exhibition paid tribute to the rich heritage of southern Saudi Arabia. The combination of colors and intricate details added a distinctive artistic flair to the evening.
This marks the third consecutive year the CDF has hosted the "Storytellers" event. The 2025 edition was held at AlMashtal Creative Incubator—one of the fund’s beneficiaries—reinforcing its ongoing support for cultural entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the cultural sector. The event also aimed to strengthen strategic partnerships with government entities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations to foster the sustainable growth of the cultural sector, thereby contributing to economic development and improving quality of life.