Saudi Visual Arts Commission Unveils Inaugural Art Week Riyadh Program

RIYADH, March 25 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has announced the program and participants for the first edition of Art Week Riyadh, set to take place from April 6 to 13, 2025. The week-long event will transform Riyadh into a hub of cultural activity, bringing together leading galleries, institutions, artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts from Saudi Arabia, the wider MENA region, and around the world.

Art Week Riyadh will be held across multiple cultural sites, including JAX District and Al Mousa Center, with exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, and artist studio visits designed to foster dialogue and showcase the Kingdom's dynamic visual arts landscape.

Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, said: “Art Week Riyadh is an opportunity to bring together the many layers of Saudi Arabia's art scene. It fosters meaningful conversations and strengthens connections between local and global artistic communities.” Head of Art Week Riyadh, Princess Adwaa bint Yazeed bin Abdullah Al Saud, added that the initiative reflects “a firm belief in the power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect us.”

The inaugural event is themed At The Edge, curated around three central threads: Everyday Life, Landscapes, and Motifs. These themes will be explored through exhibitions that balance tradition and innovation, local narratives, and global influences.

JAX District will host the flagship exhibition, featuring over 45 galleries from Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and international participants. The space will also present collaborations with major cultural institutions, including a curated display from the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).

Art Jameel will highlight key milestones in the development of video art, focusing on themes of identity and cultural evolution. Additionally, the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) will showcase the progression of Saudi abstraction through the works of notable figures such as Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, and Taha Al-Sabban, alongside emerging voices redefining the genre.

At the Al Mousa Center, more than 15 galleries—including AV Gallery, Abstract Art Gallery, and Wrd Art Gallery—will present specially curated exhibitions, celebrating Saudi pioneers and emerging talent.

The week’s cultural program at JAX District, titled How to Art World? Lessons in Value, will feature talks, workshops, and a moving image program exploring complex social and personal narratives. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the studios of prominent Saudi artists, including Ahmed Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait, and Muhannad Shono.

Riyadh’s leading museums and art destinations will also participate. The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) will present Art of the Kingdom and Adaptability Ceramics, alongside experimental workshops.

The initiative will extend to other cultural institutions such as the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Hewar Gallery, and the studios of influential Saudi artists like Ali Al Ruzaiza, Lulwah Al Homoud, and Abdullah AlOthman, reflecting the deep transformation of Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape.

Art Week Riyadh represents a key step in enhancing the city’s presence on the international arts stage and underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing creativity and cultural dialogue in line with Vision 2030.