CARTOONISTS FORM ASSOCIATION

Saudi editorial cartoonists have formed an association in Riyadh to contribute their contributions to mass communications and to develop allegiances with others in the field worldwide. Hana Hajjar, the first Saudi female editorial cartoonist and a founding member of the association, said the group would also help with legal counsel. She said 20 Saudi editorial cartoonists established the association. Currently she is the only female member, but Hajjar pointed out the association “is open to any qualified men and women.” The association’s chairman, Abdullah Sail, an editorial cartoonist at Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper, said the idea to establish the association was mooted three years ago and it saw the light thanks to the support of Abdul Aziz Al-Subail, a former official at the Ministry of Culture and Information. He said the association would open its doors before all cartoonists of any nationality. According to Sail, there are 38 editorial cartoonists working in Saudi Arabia.