Saudi Museums Commission Signs Executive Programme To Strengthen Cultural Cooperation With Centre Pompidou

The Saudi Museums Commission has signed an executive programme with the Centre national d'art et de culture – Georges Pompidou in France to deepen cooperation in the museums field. The agreement, concluded at Diriyah Art Futures, links Saudi Arabia’s museums sector with one of the world’s most recognised institutions for modern and contemporary art and sets out long-term cultural collaboration.

Under the executive programme, the Saudi Museums Commission and Centre Pompidou will coordinate work in several linked areas. These include loans of selected modern and contemporary artworks from Centre Pompidou collections to Saudi holdings, shared curation of exhibitions, and the organisation of cultural and public events across assets managed by the Museums Commission.

The cooperation also covers research and publishing activity linked to the museums sector. Both sides will exchange editorial content, including exhibition catalogues, digital material, and archival resources. This structured partnership is designed to support knowledge exchange between specialists in France and Saudi Arabia and to strengthen professional practice across the Kingdom’s museums network.

The agreement reflects the Saudi Museums Commission’s wider policy of creating international partnerships to share ideas and experience. By working with institutions such as Centre Pompidou, the Commission contributes to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s cultural infrastructure and helps align local museum projects with established global standards in modern and contemporary art.

Holding the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures highlights the venue’s growing importance as a platform for international dialogue in contemporary artistic practice. Diriyah Art Futures is recognised as the MENA region’s first centre devoted to New Media and Digital Arts, and it offers a dedicated space where artists, curators, and researchers can interact across borders.

The focus on Diriyah Art Futures aligns with the Ministry of Culture’s ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a leading hub for artistic innovation and cultural exchange. Through the new executive programme with Centre Pompidou, the Saudi Museums Commission supports that goal while adding fresh momentum to development across the national museums sector.

With inputs from SPA