The Saudia Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund partners with the inaugural Art Week Riyadh in support of the Kingdom’s dynamic cultural evolution.
Launched on 6 April, the inaugural Art Week Riyadh has opened in yet another first for the Saudi capital. Held under the auspices of the Visual Arts Commission, Ministry of Culture, it will run until 13 April and sees more than 45 local and international galleries, institutions and collections explore the Kingdom’s cultural shifts in an artistic embrace of both tradition and modernity under the theme ‘At the Edge’. Partnering for the festival’s programming is the Saudi Cultural Development Fund, founded in 2021 and which actively enriches the local landscape and nurtures the development of a self-reliant culture sector in line with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
While Art Week Riyadh, headquartered in the refurbished JAX District, largely pursues a self-reflexive approach thanks to the curatorial vision of artistic director Vittoria Matarrese, associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, as well as curator Shumon Basar, its thoughtful public programming also plays an active role. The public has the opportunity to see artworks by artists such as Ahmed Mater and Ahaad Alamoudi, as well as rarely exhibited pieces from private and institutional collections, and special showcases from Art Jameel, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art. The experience is further rounded out by artist studio visits (including to those of Lulwah Al Homoud, Muhannad Shono and Ayman Zedani), events, talks, films and workshops that explore various facets of the industry at large. Overall, the programming seeks to foster exchange and meaningful dialogue, as well as contribute to the shaping of the wider contemporary art ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Cultural Development Fund further diversifies the festival. From its main booth at JAX District, it showcases a selection of its collaborations with local artists and offers exclusive souvenirs so that visitors can leave with memories that are both tangible and intangible. These objects include special pieces made with Al Homoud, known for her calligraphic work across various media, and Faisal Alkheriji, who has a vibrant, Cubism-inspired style of painting.
Beyond facilitating a celebration of unique artistry, the Fund is equally committed to strengthening practical knowledge and providing opportunities in the arts sector. At Art Week Riyadh, it grants free specialised consultations to tackle finance and management in the cultural field, presents the chance to connect with visual arts entrepreneurs, and imparts invaluable insights into the Fund’s cultural financing and enablement solutions. One of the most exciting and significant elements in its line-up is the ‘Cultural Financing for the Visual Arts Sector’ workshop, which highlights the tailored solutions and opportunities available to businesses and entrepreneurs across the industry. Focusing on raising awareness and building an understanding of the tools required to navigate cultural financing, it also offers guidance on eligibility and applicant status, all with the goal of empowering cultural projects and facilitating the journey from concept through to sustainable, meaningful project.
At Art Week Riyadh, the Saudi Cultural Development Fund, institutions, galleries, artists, collectors and industry professionals come together to engage with the Saudi contemporary art scene’s present, reflect on its past, and innovate for its future.
This article is in partnership with the Cultural Development Fund
