ReviewBiennials & festivals
Saudi Arabia pushes forward with plans for cultural 'renaissance' with vast light festival full of both local and big-name artists
Agencies seem to be betting that time and increased exposure to the kingdom will wear down Western qualms over its human rights record
NewsSaudi Arabia
Philip Tinari appointed curator of inaugural Ad-Diriyah Biennale in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom’s largest ever contemporary art exhibition will aim to deliver a more "open" image of the country
NewsSaudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia continues relentless cultural drive with Jean Nouvel subterranean desert resort
The plans are part of a ten-year agreement between France and Saudi Arabia to develop the AlUla region into a tourism destination
NewsSaudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia pushes soft power by launching new teamLab digital art museum in Jeddah
The hi-tech Tokyo-based collective will create trademark immersive experiences for the new space
NewsBiennials & festivals
Saudi Arabia moves ahead with plans for 2021 biennale at historic Ad Diriyah site
New contemporary art event is yet to confirm participating artists
AnalysisSaudi Arabia
Are Saudi Arabia's big culture plans turning to dust?
As oil prices slump and the pandemic continues to spread, the kingdom's ambitious initiatives are being scaled back
ReviewExhibitions
Saudi Arabia's art festival 21,39: tackling climate change in the desert
This year's edition of the art initiative is a call to action on the climate emergency
NewsSaudi Arabia
Desert X AlUla—the inaugural art biennial in a historic Saudi Arabian valley—announces participants
Wael Shawky, Superflex and eL Seed are among the artists who will base works on the ancient history of the region
NewsExhibitions
Major Kandinsky show opens in Saudi Arabia as Vladimir Putin arrives for rare state visit
Cultural programme of Russian art launches to coincide with president's trip to the Gulf state to sign over $2bn worth of deals
NewsDesert X
Three board members resign as Desert X announces collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles Times reports
Ed Ruscha, Yael Lipschutz and Tristan Milanovich have resigned over the decision to launch the sculpture biennial in Al-Ula next year
NewsMusée du Louvre
Louvre to train refugees as tour guides with funds from Saudi foundation
Supported by undisclosed donation from Alwaleed Philanthropies, French museum’s newly renovated Islamic galleries reopened this week
NewsArt market
Christie's holds auction in Saudi Arabia to raise funds for Jeddah museum
Sale raises $1.3m for new heritage museum dedicated to the history of Jeddah's historical district
NewsState Hermitage Museum
St Petersburg's State Hermitage ponders Saudi Arabia satellite museum
The Hermitage will also expand its presence in Crimea with a new cultural centre planned in Sevastopol
NewsVenice Biennale 2019
Saudi Arabia returns to Venice Biennale after eight-year hiatus
Show of site-specific works by Zahrah Al Ghamdi is supported by the government-backed Misk Art Institute
NewsArt market
Frieze shareholder Endeavor ‘in process’ of pulling out of $400m Saudi deal
Hollywood entertainment agency intends to return entire investment after murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
AnalysisThe Year In Review
The year in heritage: conservators become art
The conservation of masterpieces is happening in the full glare of the public
NewsDubai
Jameel Arts Centre: Dubai gets first non-governmental contemporary art space
Four solo shows of female artists are part of efforts to “redress the gender balance” in the Middle East, says director
CommentJamal Khashoggi
Do not penalise Saudi Arabian artists for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi
"There is great fear now within Saudi Arabia, with even stricter self-censorship than before"
NewsRiyadh
Huge French-Saudi cultural collaboration cemented despite Khashoggi murder
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed plans to develop Al-Ula Province one day after Turkish officials announced killing of Saudi journalist
NewsJamal Khashoggi
Russia announces major Kandinsky show in Saudi Arabia amid Khashoggi murder controversy
A small number of works by the Russian avant-garde artist are currently at “Davos in the Desert” conference to act as teaser for future exhibition
NewsExhibitions
Citing 'rapidly developing' ties, Russian fund will take art exhibition to Saudi Arabia
Announcement comes as evidence mounts in slaying of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
NewsSaudi Arabia
Columbia University cancels talk with Saudi artist Ahmed Mater amid scrutiny over the kingdom’s cultural funding
The Metropolitan and the Brooklyn museums have also decided not to use money from the Crown Prince’s arts organisation for related events
NewsDonations
Saudi Arabian foundation donates €9m to Berlin Museum of Islamic Art
Funds donated by Alwaleed Philanthropies will support exhibitions and education, including “Multaka” project to train refugees as museum guides
CommentSaudi Arabia
Letter to the Editor: Saudi Arabia will collaborate with the world, not only France, to make its cultural heritage accessible
Al-Ula, the most important cultural heritage site in the north-west of the kingdom, will benefit from international standards in heritage preservation and planning
NewsComment
Why the French can sell arms and culture to Saudi Arabia, but the US and UK only arms
France's latest deal with the Kingdom reveals the close connection between culture and foreign affairs
NewsCultural policy
The blueprint for Saudi Arabia's multi-billion-euro project with France
We exclusively reveal the details of the plans for a “historic” collaboration
CommentLeaders
What we can learn from Saudi art
Suddenly, a lot of money is flowing through the kingdom for the promotion of contemporary art and culture
NewsCultural policy
France to help build a 'new Petra' in Saudi Arabia with estimated $20bn development deal
The country is due to sign a massive contract with the kingdom to turn Mada’in Saleh and the Al-Ula region into a cultural tourism destination
CommentSaudi Arabia
Crown Prince Mohammed of Saudi Arabia has roped an ancient city into his London charm offensive
The splendid Nabatean site of Mada’in Saleh may be opened to tourists
NewsCommissions
Kuwaiti artists awarded inaugural Art Jameel commission for new Dubai culture complex
Alia Farid and Aseel AlYacoub will create a light-up botanical garden linking both wings of the Jameel Arts Centre
NewsBiennials & festivals
What to see at 21,39—Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art festival
Critics choose highlights from fifth edition of the Jeddah show, organised by Tate curator Vassilis Oikonomopoulos
NewsOpenings
Crown Prince Mohammed adds art, Silicon Valley and movies to his Saudi reforms as Wahabi influence wanes
MoMa hosts announcement of his Misk Art Institute, led by artist Ahmed Mater
NewsOpenings
New Art Jameel space for contemporary art to launch in Saudi Arabia in 2019
The Hayy: Creative Hub centre in Jeddah is latest cultural offering announced in the rebranded Kingdom
NewsArt market
From Van Gogh to Richter—what happens when bidders fail to pay up at auction?
Flaky winning bids are knocking the gloss off record-breaking sales
News
Saudi mega museum—King Abdulaziz Center in Dhahran—is finally moving ahead
Cultural powerhouse in the Gulf—backed by Aramco—is extending its local and global reach
NewsSaudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince launches institute to promote art in the Middle East
Recently identified buyer of Leonardo's Salvator Mundi is planning a pavilion at the Venice Biennale, art teaching in schools, international exhibitions, archaeology and virtual reality
NewsArt market
Abu Dhabi Art censors work by Saudi Arabian artist
Abdulnasser Gharem’s painting about Sunni-Shia divide was removed from Brigitte Schenk's stand at organisers' request
FeaturePodcast
Abu Dhabi Focus podcast, episode two: How Saudi artists are driving political change
As Abu Dhabi Art fair opens, we speak to the Saudi artists Manal Al Dowayan and Ahmed Mater. Plus: Iraq's Dia Azzawi on creating the Arab world's Guernica
NewsPolitics
Saudi artists speak out over new law giving women the right to drive
While some hail the reform as progressive, others question it as a PR stunt
ArchiveExhibitions
Saudi Arabian artist Gharem’s first US solo show escapes shadow of 9/11
Political and poignant, Gharem's art reflects on one of the defining moments of the 21st century
NewsExhibitions
Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem to have first solo US show at Lacma
Former lieutenant colonel in the Saudi Arabian army is known for his politically and socially engaged works that draw on his Muslim heritage
ArchiveMuseums & Heritage
The government of Saudi Arabia to spend $1.7bn on building 230 museums
Thirty international archaeology teams have been invited to the desert land
ArchiveSaudi Arabia
Bureaucracy and censorship: a palpable thaw in Saudi Arabia
But words are now more risky than art
ArchiveMiddle East
Major collectors and new museums in the Middle East
Focus on Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman
ArchiveIslam
The British Council opened its first art exhibition in Saudi Arabia last month
Foreign Secretary uses occasion to praise Muslim contribution to UK
CommentSaudi Arabia
Why culture is so important in the time of coronavirus
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the G20 summit, the kingdom's culture minister argues that culture should be part of the agenda
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud