JOY AWARDS.. Farouk Hosny honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award
On an exceptional night in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority, presented the “Lifetime Achievement Award” to the former Egyptian Minister of Culture and renowned visual artist, Farouk Hosny. This prestigious honor was bestowed during the sixth annual Joy Awards ceremony, organized by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) as part of the Riyadh Season events, amidst a large international and Arab audience.
Farouk Hosny's speech at the Joy Awards ceremony
Former minister Farouk Hosny expressed his profound happiness at this recognition, taking to the stage to accept the award amidst thunderous applause from the audience. In his moving speech, he said, “It is a pleasure and an honor for me at this wonderful ceremony to express my deepest gratitude for this generous tribute, which I cherish and appreciate with immense pride and respect.” Hosny noted that this honor was not only a personal recognition but also an acknowledgment of culture and the arts as an influential soft power in the Arab world.
A career full of cultural achievements
This honor comes as a culmination of a decades-long professional and cultural career, as Farouk Hosny is considered one of the most prominent cultural figures in modern Egyptian history. He served as Egypt's Minister of Culture for over 23 years (from 1987 to 2011), the longest tenure of any minister in this position in Egyptian history. During his time in office, Egypt witnessed a significant cultural renaissance, marked by the launch of mega-projects such as the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, in addition to restoration projects for Islamic, Coptic, and Pharaonic antiquities, including the restoration of the Sphinx and the temples of Luxor and Karnak.
The visual artist and minister
In addition to his political and administrative roles, Farouk Hosny is internationally recognized as a visual artist with a distinctive style in abstract art. His works have been exhibited in major international museums and galleries in Paris, Rome, New York, and Tokyo. This rare combination of refined artistic sensibility and decisive administrative ability has made him a unique figure, earning him the title of "Artist Minister," thus lending a well-deserved dimension to the Lifetime Achievement Award for a personality who has combined creativity with cultural decision-making.
The importance of the JOY AWARDS ceremony regionally and internationally
The JOY AWARDS is the largest awards ceremony of its kind in the Middle East, celebrating entertainment industry leaders from the Arab world and beyond across the fields of art, film, drama, music, and sports. The event reflects the remarkable development of the entertainment and culture sector in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, transforming Riyadh into a global destination that attracts leading stars and creative minds. Honoring a cultural icon of Farouk Hosny's stature underscores the inclusiveness of the Saudi vision, which recognizes established cultural figures alongside contemporary entertainment stars.
