La Fabrique: Saudi-France Creative Space Opens In Riyadh's JAX District

Riyadh Art, working with L’Institut Français in Saudi Arabia, has opened La Fabrique at Riyadh Art Hub in JAX District. The project runs from 22 January to 14 February and supports the wider cultural partnership between Saudi Arabia and France.

La Fabrique functions as an open, experimental environment where artists try out, adjust, and advance ideas together. The space acts like a living laboratory, supporting performance, digital and interactive arts, photography, music, cinema, and various participatory forms that invite direct audience involvement.

The initiative encourages visitors to observe how artworks develop over time, from first concept to final form. Members of the public can watch artists at work, interact with them, and gain a clearer sense of creative methods and production routes used across contemporary disciplines.

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave described La Fabrique as a fresh step in Saudi-French cultural cooperation. Maisonnave stressed that bringing artists from both countries into one shared space supports the exchange of skills and ideas and highlights art’s value for communication and mutual understanding.

Royal Commission for Riyadh City Senior Director of Public Art Omar AlBraik said the launch of La Fabrique reflects Riyadh Art’s continued backing for contemporary practice and professional growth. AlBraik noted that the venue offers a platform for joint projects, strengthening Riyadh’s cultural ecosystem and expanding its creative community.

By placing La Fabrique within a public hub, Riyadh Art aims to reinforce art’s visibility in shared urban areas and bring creative work closer to everyday life. The programme’s schedule between 22 January and 14 February supports this goal through sustained activity and community access.

With inputs from SPA