Diriyah Art Futures Showcases Innovative Projects At Inaugural Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency Open Studio

The Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) recently hosted the inaugural Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency Open Studio at its Diriyah headquarters. This event provided a glimpse into the projects being developed by the Spring 2025 cohort of artists and scholars. Attendees were welcomed with remarks from DAF Director Dr. Haytham Nawar and DAF Director of Education Dr. Tegan Bristow, followed by presentations from residency scholars.

During the event, visitors had the chance to interact directly with resident artists through artist talks, studio tours, and interactive sessions in DAF’s XR and fabrication labs. These presentations highlighted the diverse and experimental nature of the Mazra’ah residency programme, which encourages practitioners to work across various media, disciplines, and technologies.

The Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency offers participants access to advanced production tools and dedicated studio space. It also promotes collaborative exchange within a global community. The first residency cycle is themed "High-Resolution Dreams of Sand," encouraging exploration of ecological, technological, and cultural connections.

This Open Studio event represents a significant milestone in DAF’s mission to position the region at the forefront of global discussions on New Media and Digital Art. The Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency aims to continue developing projects until July 2025, culminating in future public activations.

The evening featured presentations from Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency scholars Dr. Anett Holzheid and independent writer and curator Mizuho Yamazaki. These sessions reflected the programme's commitment to fostering innovative artistic practices.

With inputs from SPA