RIYADH — Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah announced on Thursday an initiative to support local communities in restoring heritage towns. The minister made the announcement at the concluding session of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. The forum was held in the presence of several officials, cultural figures, leaders and members of non-profit cultural organizations, representatives of relevant government entities, as well as donors, private-sector supporters, and those interested in the cultural sector.Prince Badr said the initiative aims to enhance communityparticipation in preserving and rehabilitating valuable heritage assets. In its first year, it targets the restoration of several heritage villages through an innovative support model that provides financial matching to contributions made by non-profit organizations, enabling owners of heritage towns to restore and rehabilitate them at their own expense.The minister noted that the initiative represents the culmination of an effective partnership between government efforts, representedby the Heritage Commission, and community engagement to preserve heritage towns across the Kingdom. “It also seeks to stimulate efforts to develop, manage, and activate these sites, transforming them into cultural and economic assets that contribute to local community development while preserving architectural identity,” he said, adding the opening of applications for the initiative will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2026.