The fourth AlUla Arts Festival makes its grand return today with a vibrant programme of performances, exhibitions and activities, transforming the oasis city in northwest Saudi Arabia into a celebration of art in the landscape.
Running until 22 February 2025, the festival brings together leading Saudi and international creative practitioners from diverse disciplines, breathing new life into AlUla’s ancient heritage with stunning contemporary commissions at the crossroads of cultures, timelines and creative movements.
Since its inception, the annual festival, part of the AlUla Moments Season, has grown into a must-visit event on the global arts calendar, offering arts and culture enthusiasts an immersive experience and an opportunity to connect with both AlUla’s past and its future creative vision.
Throughout the festival, the otherworldly landscapes, picturesque urban environment and dynamic community of AlUla provide stunning backdrops for creative exploration, with a rich programme of activities, catering to audiences of all backgrounds.
From performance to photography and music to film, the festival promises to inspire international visitors and the local community alike, introducing new forms of creative expression. Visitors will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in a sensorial exploration of AlUla’s rich tapestry of sights, sounds, touch, tastes and smells.
The festival brings together key elements of the Arts AlUla ecosystem, including Wadi AlFann, a 65-square-kilometre global cultural destination for contemporary land art, where works bynternational artists are being permanently installed in the landscape of AlUla. There are also contributions from the upcoming contemporary art museum in AlUla, Villa Hegra, Madrasat Addeera, Design Space AlUla, AlUla Music Hub, Cinema AlJadidah, and partners including Athr Gallery and Khawla Art and Culture.
At the heart of the festival is Gathering Square in the AlJadidah Arts District, home to a series of art and design exhibitions featuring Saudi and international artists. The district also hosts a central programming space that features a diverse public programme, including regular workshops, classes and talks for adults and families.
Nora Aldabal, Executive Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “AlUla Arts Festival is a testament to our vision of AlUla as a global centre of cultural exchange. This year’s programme features a rich palette of artworks, where the unique backdrop of AlUla presents a canvas for ambitious creative explorations at the crossroads of civilisations, mediums and timelines. We look forward to witnessing visitors interact with the artworks, people and places of AlUla, where contemporary art lives in conversation with ancient heritage and landscapes.”
Exhibitions:
Wadi AlFann presents James Turrell (16 January – 19 April): An exhibition surveying the work of pioneering Light and Space artist James Turrell, presented by Wadi AlFann. Curated by guest curator Michael Govan, CEO of Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA), the exhibition connects Turrell’s legacy with his ambitious Wadi AlFann commission, offering visitors an unparalleled experience of Light and Space. On view are light art installations as well as renders, plans and a constellation map relating to his upcoming commission in AlUla.
Maha Malluh: Reminiscence (16 January – 19 April): This exhibition will showcase works by renowned artist Maha Malluh. The outdoor exhibition will critically examine the role of representation in conscious visual perception, a discussion that intersects the domains of philosophy and psychology. The exhibition invites the audience to reflect on how realist theories can incorporate these insights in juxtaposition to representational conceptions of visual perception. As part of the forthcoming contemporary art museum in AlUla, we are pleased to offer our visitors a comprehensive exploration of the artists’ memories, highlighting the essential role of artistic practice.
Tarek Atoui: Bayt Al Hams (The Whispering House) (16 January – 16 April): During the festival, the AlWarsha space will be dedicated to contemporary sound practices, with a focus on education, improvisation, experimentation, and the production of Tarek’s new artwork commission. It will function as a platform for facilitating collaboration among local, national, and international artists. All attendees are encouraged to engage with the installation, interacting with various instruments contributing to the overall commission.
Design Space AlUla: Raw to Revival (16 January – 19 April): Design Space AlUla returns for its second exhibition in collaboration with Madrasat Addeera, to spotlight the region’s cultural heritage and innovative design. For the first time, Design Space AlUla will present works created within Madrasat Addeera, emphasising the intersection of tradition and modernity that defines AlUla’s cultural identity. The exhibition offers a multi-sensory experience that showcases AlUla’s unique blend of natural beauty and craftsmanship. It invites visitors to explore textures, scents, sounds, and visuals that tell the story of Madrasat Addeera’s transformation from a historic girls school into a thriving arts and design centre.
Al Khatt (16 January – 22 February): Presented by Arts AlUla in collaboration with Khawla Art and Culture, this activation celebrates and elevates the rich legacy of Arabic calligraphy. The activation unfolds in three segments, each weaving Arabic calligraphy into its essence:
– AlKhatt in Tantora is an installation by Her Highness Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, inspired by her work (Infatuation).
– AlKhatt Gallery showcases a solo exhibition by Lebanese artist Ghaleb Hawila, and a collective exhibition featuring a diverse array of Arabic calligraphy masterpieces, including works by Wissam Shawkat, Abdallah Akkar and typography by Ibrahim Zaki.
– Bayt AlKhatt is the concept store that invites visitors to explore everyday objects adorned with Arabic calligraphy. Adding to the allure is a historic house transformed into an indoor gallery, featuring exquisite abayas by Hanayen, designer furniture by Sandra Haber Wehbe and jewellery co-designed by Sandra and Azza Al Qubaisi.
NEUMA – The Forgotten Ceremony (12 December – 27 February): Saudi artist Sarah Brahim and French artist Ugo Schiavi present NEUMA – The Forgotten Ceremony, the first collaborative artwork embodying the identity of Villa Hegra – the Saudi-French institution set to open in central AlUla. The project features an indoor exhibition at Dar Tantora and an outdoor installation at Wadi AlNaam, including a minimalist glass temple for reflection. The exhibition showcases blown glass sculptures inspired by local stones and a film of their research process.
Alamaat (Until 26 March): Athr Gallery presents Alamaat by Daniah Alsaleh and Susanne Kriemann, curated by Salma Al Khalidi. The exhibition celebrates the German Archaeological Institute’s (DAI) 20th year of excavations in Saudi Arabia through a collaboration that bridges the ancient and the contemporary, exploring how both ordinary and extraordinary discoveries shape our understanding. Set against the backdrop of the archaeological sites of Tayma and AlUla, Alamaat invites viewers to rethink the desert landscape, not merely as a relic but as a realm where history and the present intersect in a myriad of ways.
AlUla Artist Residencies Open Studios (22 February): Beyond AlUla Arts Festival’s major exhibitions, there exists a wealth of engaging activities that immerse visitors in the creative spirit of AlUla. The AlUla Artist Residency Open Studios provide a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the creative energy of AlUla. This programme showcases the work of six talented Saudi and international artists who explore various mediums while engaging deeply with AlUla’s rich heritage, archaeology, crafts, and community. Their research and work is enriched by AlUla’s unique environment, offering visitors insights into their creative processes as part of the AlUla Artist Residency Programme.
The participating artists include: Marwah AlMugait (Saudi), Abdessamad El Montassir (Moroccan), Han Mengyun (Chinese), Jayesh Kumar Sharma (Indian), Sofia Pomeroy (Spanish and British) and Younes Ben Slimane (Tunisian).
Peformances:
Thikra: Night of Remembering (25 – 27 January): Wadi AlFann presents Thikra: Night of Remembering, created by multi-award-winning choreographer Akram Khan and Wadi AlFann artist Manal AlDowayan. The evocative performance and its dancers embody concepts of forgetting, collective learning and healing, exploring the idea that ‘without a past, there is no future’. The performance features 14 world-class international dancers, an original music score by award-winning composer Aditya Prakash and uniquely designed costumes and set by Manal AlDowayan. It also embodies AlUla’s commitment to engaging local audiences through involving our communities in shaping its design, music, and movement. The performance will take place against the breathtaking backdrop of Wadi AlFann.
Tarek Atoui: Bayt Al Hams (The Whispering House) (16 January): Conceived by the contemporary artist and performer Tarek Atoui, a groundbreaking public concert performance is scheduled to take place on 16 January. This event will present his latest work, which is part of his ongoing collaboration with the contemporary art museum in AlUla.
To the Eagles Lecture Performance by Ayman Zedani (29 January and 18 February): The contemporary art museum presents Ayman Zedani’s To the Eagles, a lecture performance rooted in the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula. Based on years of artistic research, it explores the region’s diverse past, encompassing both key historic discoveries and ongoing archaeological and ecological projects. During the performance, the artist takes us on a journey from the south to the north, from the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Lihyan (Gulf of Aqaba), traversing seven mountain peaks and seven spiritual valleys, to shed light on the missing pieces of the Peninsula’s historical narrative.
Press release from Royal Commission for AlUla
Image: Daniah Al Saleh. Installation of Shams. 2024. Tracing Paper, video on loop 3 mins. Image courtesy of ATHR
