Latest news with #DiriyahContemporaryArtBiennale
Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Ithra announces open call for 7th Ithra Art Prize with expanded exhibition format
Saudi Gazette report DHAHRAN — The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced the open call for the 7th edition of the Ithra Art Prize, one of the world's most generous grants for contemporary artists from the Arab world. With a top award of $100,000 and a new format including five additional finalists, the prize offers an unparalleled platform for regional creatives. Submissions are now open and will be accepted until October 16, 2025. For the first time in the prize's history, five finalists will receive production grants to showcase their works alongside the winner in a collective exhibition at Ithra in spring 2026. The final winner will be selected during the exhibition, which marks a return of the prize's centerpiece event to Ithra's home in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. Launched in 2017, the Ithra Art Prize is open to individual artists and collectives aged 18 and above who are either of Arab heritage or reside in one of the 22 Arab prize welcomes both new commissions and recontextualized existing works that reflect sustained inquiry, intellectual engagement, and a strong regional context.'The Ithra Art Prize supports artists who engage creatively and critically with conditions and ideas that speak to the diverse contexts of our region,' said Farah Abushullaih, Head of Ithra's Museum.'The 7th edition marks a homecoming that expands the prize's scope through an exhibition at Ithra featuring multiple works in dialogue with one another.'Since its inception, the Ithra Art Prize has launched the careers of prominent artists across the Arab winners include Ayman Zedani, Daniah Al Saleh, Fahad bin Naif, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Adel Abidin, and Obaid works have been featured at Art Dubai, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, the State Hermitage Museum in Russia, and the AlUla Arts Prize continues to foster dialogue, innovation, and cultural production across the Arab region, with a focus on bridging local voices with global audiences.
Saudi Gazette
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed appointed artistic directors for 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale
DIRIYAH — The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed as the artistic directors for the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which will take place in January 2026 in Diriyah, near Riyadh. The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, a premier platform for contemporary art in Saudi Arabia, continues to gain global recognition. Razian and Ahmed, both distinguished figures in the art world, bring extensive experience in curatorial practices, cross-cultural dialogue, and innovative exhibition strategies. Razian and Ahmed's curatorial approach will center on themes of resilience, world-making, and the transmission of histories and knowledge over time. Their vision for the 2026 Biennale aims to explore artistic interventions, archives, and participatory models that reimagine the future while reflecting on the past. "We are honored to lead the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale," said Razian and Ahmed."This Biennale is rapidly establishing itself as a major global platform for contemporary art, and we envision a program that fosters vibrant artistic imaginations, rooted in diverse histories and knowledge systems."The 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale will be hosted at JAX District, a creative hub in the historic town of Diriyah, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of works from Saudi and international artists, the Biennale will continue its mission of fostering dialogue and engagement within the local and global art the success of previous editions, Feeling the Stones (2022) and After Rain (2024) — which attracted over 340,000 visitors — the upcoming edition will further enhance Saudi Arabia's role as a global center for contemporary art and creative Razian, currently Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions at Art Jameel, has led major curatorial projects at institutions including the Tate in London, Sursock Museum in Beirut, and Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and specializes in interdisciplinary art programs that address climate change, archaeology, and contemporary cultural Ahmed, a curator, theorist, and educator, has held leadership roles at Ishara Art Foundation in Dubai and Asia Art work maps modern and contemporary art across Asia, engaging with archives, artist collaborations, and cultural Diriyah Biennale Foundation, led by CEO Aya Al-Bakree, is instrumental in Saudi Arabia's cultural transformation, to developing the arts and creative commented: "Razian and Ahmed bring deep expertise in fostering artistic and curatorial exchanges between Eastern and Western Asia. Their leadership will be crucial in positioning Saudi Arabia as a dynamic force in contemporary art." — SG
