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Arab News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's Ithra launches open call for $100,000 art prize
DHAHRAN: Artists across the region are invited to apply for the Ithra Art Prize, with $100,000 up for grabs and the chance to have their work displayed at one of the Middle East's leading cultural institutions. The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) announced the open call for the seventh edition, with the head of the museum calling it one of area's 'most generous and influential' art grants. Artists from across the Arab world can submit their proposals via the Ithra website, with a deadline of Oct. 16. This edition will also, for the first time, recognize five finalists with production grants. Their work, along with the winning commission, will be exhibited at Ithra's headquarters in spring 2026. Launched in 2017, the prize initially focused on Saudi and Saudi-based artists but was expanded in its fourth edition to include contemporary artists of Arab heritage across 22 countries. Farah Abushullaih, Ithra's head of museum, told Arab News it served as 'an open invitation to artists to speak in their own voice.' She said: 'We're looking for proposals that reflect depth, authenticity and a clear vision. What stands out is work that is intellectually grounded and emotionally resonant.' Both new commissions and re-contextualized existing works are accepted, provided they are closely linked to the artist's ongoing research and creative trajectory. Applicants must be aged 18 or older and of Arab heritage or residing in one of the 22 Arab countries. Both individual artists and collectives may apply. 'The prize is about expanding the region's cultural conversations through bold, original ideas. Ithra is committed to supporting them every step of the way, from conception to creation and beyond,' said Abushullaih. The Ithra Art Prize has played a pivotal role in advancing contemporary art from the region since its inception. Past winners have displayed their works at leading cultural events including Art Dubai, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and the AlUla Arts Festival. Abushullaih said: 'Ithra continually evolves its programs to reflect the changing artistic landscape and needs of the Kingdom and the region. In the case of the Ithra Art Prize, this goes beyond funding; we offer a platform for dialogue, critical thinking and meaningful cultural exchange.' She added sustaining this impact was an ongoing commitment. 'It requires long-term investment in artists' development, authentic community engagement and creating opportunities for works to resonate, both locally and globally. We want Ithra to be a meeting place for cultures to interact, share, and grow,' she said. Looking ahead, Ithra is already in discussions to present the winner's work beyond Dhahran. 'Partnerships and collaborations have always been central to how we develop our programs and extend the reach of the artists we support,' said Abushullaih. 'We are in dialogue with institutions based in Saudi Arabia and internationally to explore ways for the seventh edition of the prize to be seen by a wider audience and experienced in new contexts beyond Ithra.'
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.
Leaders
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Ithra Showcases Magnificent Artworks at Art Week Riyadh
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has showcased a curated selection of 15 significant works for the first time at Art Week Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Art Week Riyadh Set to run until Sunday, April 13, the inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh seeks to celebrate the Kingdom's flourishing art scene. Themed 'At The Edge,' the event highlights the participation of local and international galleries, artists, and art enthusiasts from all over the world. 'Landscape and Memory' Art Week Riyadh Ithra is currently displaying a fine selection from its museum collection 'Landscape and Memory,' reflecting several artistic practices and cultural expressions. The center's participation is part of 'Collections in Dialogue,' a key exhibition in the event held at JAX District, from April 6 to May 31, 2025. Importantly, Ithra has brought together a prestigious elite of both local and international artists with a valuable opportunity to showcase their artworks, such as sculptures, paintings and installations. New Perspectives of Memory Art Week Riyadh Through its participation as an Exhibition Partner, Ithra has offered distinctive glimpses into the interplay between material memory, transformation, and the landscapes that deeply shape one's identity. In this context, the exhibition has raised a very important question, 'How to preserve history and how to offer an appropriate interpretation and reimagination for history through art?' Moreover, the event highlights the memory not only a proof of the world but also as a dynamic force that links people to the past and offers new potentials for the future. 'Ithra's participation in Art Week Riyadh represents a valuable opportunity to celebrate creative expression and embrace diverse artistic and cultural perspectives,' Head of Museum at Ithra, Farah Abushullaih, said. Stunning Artworks Art Week Riyadh Here is a list of all participating artists and their artworks: Artist Artworks Saudi Arabian artist and film director Mohammed Alfaraj Fossils of Knowledge (2022) Maha Malluh Oil Candies (KSA – 2019) American artist Gregory Mahoney Sea Land (1991) Five Gallons/Five Oceans (1995) End of the World (1993) South Korean artist Do Ho Suh Screens (2005) Saudi photographer Moath Aloufi The Scene (2019) I Am the One (2019) The Family (2019) Italian master Michelangelo Pistoletto Persone in Comunicazione (2019), Lebanese calligraphy artist Joumana Medlej Who Am I? (2015) Saudi eclectic artist Sultan bin Fahad Sultan Bin Fahad 1440 AH (2016) Palestinian sculptor Abdul Rahman Katanani Tornado (2020) Palestinian artist Hazem Harb The Place is Mine, Series #3 (2019) Egyptian painter and sculptor Moataz Nasr Burning (2019) Related Topics: Ithra Hosts 25 Cultural Events to Mark Eid al-Fitr Celebrations Art Week Riyadh: Celebrating Saudi Arabia's Flourishing Art Scene Saudi International Luxury Week Starts in Riyadh Short link : Post Views: 12
