Art Week Riyadh Concludes Inaugural Edition With Strong Cultural Legacy And Community Engagement

The Visual Arts Commission recently wrapped up the first Art Week Riyadh, attracting over 17,000 visitors across 13 venues in the city. This event served as a non-commercial platform to support contemporary Saudi art, encourage cultural exchange, and highlight the Kingdom's creative progress. The initiative aimed to unite institutions, practitioners, and communities in shaping a vibrant cultural future.

Princess Adwaa bint Yazeed, Head of the Art Week Riyadh initiative, expressed pride in this movement. She stated: "This week reflected what we can achieve when institutions, practitioners, and communities unite to shape a vibrant cultural future." Her gratitude extended to all contributors who helped make the inaugural edition successful, laying a foundation for ongoing artistic excellence.

The week saw participation from over 50 local and international galleries and 200 artists. More than 500 artworks were showcased through over 100 events including exhibitions, workshops, and panel discussions. These activities highlighted the growing creative energy within the Kingdom. The event marked a significant milestone for Riyadh and reflected a broader cultural movement emerging across Saudi Arabia.

Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, noted: "Throughout this week, we witnessed the living embodiment of Art Week Riyadh's vision as a vibrant celebration of creativity." She emphasized that it was more than just an event for Riyadh; it represented a commitment to nurturing visual arts for future generations.

The Collections in Dialogue exhibition at JAX District was among the highlights. It featured works from King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), Art Jameel, and Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG). This exhibition offered insights into Saudi cultural identity evolution through renowned artists like Do Ho Suh and Maha Malluh.

Another notable exhibition at JAX District was At the Edge. It showcased curated selections by over 30 galleries reflecting dialogues between Saudi art scenes and global contemporary art landscapes. Esteemed international galleries participated with works by artists such as Wael Shawky and Kader Attia.

Transforming Spaces

In central Riyadh, Al Mousa Center transformed from a commercial complex into an art destination. It hosted 20 solo and group exhibitions by regional and international artists. Highlights included women-led "Hunna" exhibition by ERRM Gallery and Gallery Misr alongside panels discussing art's value in modern times.

The week's theme "How To Art World? – Lessons in Value," curated by Shumon Basar, featured talks addressing core issues like art auctions and digital reproduction era challenges. Workshops provided insights into emerging collectors' roles within this evolving landscape.

Citywide Engagement

Art Week Riyadh extended its activities citywide allowing visitors to explore galleries such as ATHR, Hafez, Liff while visiting leading Saudi artists' studios in JAX District including Muhannad Shono and Marwa AlMugait. The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) drew attention with exhibitions like Art of the Kingdom alongside experimental workshops.

Lulwah Al Humoud's ISDAR Studio hosted an etching dry-point workshop led by artist Zeina Bardran adding further depth to this enriching experience for attendees interested in exploring different artistic techniques firsthand during their visit throughout this engaging week-long celebration dedicated entirely towards promoting local creativity within Riyadh’s thriving arts scene today!

With inputs from SPA