Partner Content: Located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, MENA’s first New Media Arts Hub brings together past, present and future.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been making waves on all fronts, and this is especially true of the creative sector. Cementing its place as a global leader in this space, the Kingdom has just unveiled the groundbreaking Diriyah Art Futures.
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, Diriyah Art Futures is the MENA region’s first New Media Arts hub. Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission in collaboration with Diriyah Company, the hub seamlessly blends the past with the future, presenting a space where artists can push creative and technological boundaries.
To mark this milestone opening, Diriyah Art Futures has launched its inaugural exhibition Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts which runs until 15 February. Curated by Jérôme Neutres, this showcase traces the evolution of computer-generated art from the 1960s to today. It includes a remarkable lineup of international artists, such as Frieder Nake from Germany, Vera Molnar from Hungary and France, Refik Anadol from Turkey and Ryoji Ikeda from Japan, alongside Saudi artists including Lulwah Alhomoud, Daniah Alsaleh, Muhannad Shono, and Nasser Alshemimry.
Asides from exhibiting groundbreaking art, Diriyah Art Futures will double as a launch pad for new talent. DAF has also launched its inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Programme, developed in partnership with Le Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, which offers emerging artists access to hands-on mentorship, funding, and cutting-edge facilities, to develop groundbreaking work. Likewise, the Mazra’ah Media Art Residency, which will run from February until April 2025, also invites established artists and scholars to produce work exploring the intersections of nature, technology, and society.
Part exhibition space, part laboratory and part educational centre, Diriyah Art Futures aims to push the boundaries of art, technology, and innovation and provide a platform for artists to shape the future of creative expression. Designed by Italian architectural firm Schiattarella Associati, DAF’s 6,550m2 hub features state-of-the-art digital labs, studios, and exhibition spaces, which promise to transform Diriyah into an incubator for emergent art forms.
Diriyah Art Futures is the latest example of how Vision 2030 is transforming Saudi Arabia’s creative sector, by fostering global collaboration and enriching the Kingdom’s cultural offerings. More than just keeping pace with the international art scene, Saudi Arabia is setting new standards and redefining the future of art. So don’t miss the chance to experience Diriyah Art Futures.
Tickets are now live, starting at SAR 15.
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