By Samar Yahya

Saudi Gazette

DUBAI — Art Jameel made an open call to Saudi artists, inviting them to participate in Navigating the Contemporary Art Scene, a cornerstone of Art Jameel’s new educational initiative, Hayy: Learning, developed specifically for artists and creative people based in Saudi Arabia.

“It is always the goals of Art Jameel to support artists and creatives not only in Saudi Arabia and the Arab countries but worldwide. Collaboration goes on with more entities concerned with arts and culture and there will be expansion plans for Art Jameel Centers in the future. Once Hayy Creative Hub is open, we will work on more,” said Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel Center, to Saudi journalists during a special media briefing on Hayy Creative Hub development.

Sara Al-Omran, senior manager strategy and development Art Jameel, also briefed the group of journalists on the development of Hayy Creative Hub; its location, land space and activities.

Through bespoke programs, workshops and public talks, Hayy Learning nurtures talent, skills and knowledge development across art, film, theater, music and beyond. The program will be delivered at Hayy: Creative Hub, Jeddah, once the center opens in 2020; in the meantime, the inaugural arts-specific program will take place at partner venues in Jeddah.

Navigating the Contemporary Art Scene is a new program that responds to the needs of the Saudi arts scene and is designed to support emerging and upcoming Saudi-based artists. Participants will work with tutors to develop their practices and careers; learn new skills and contexts; and map and navigate the arts and cultural landscapes of KSA.

The program includes lectures, seminars, workshops and readings, which collectively familiarize artists with the cultural landscapes of KSA and the region, and allow them to track and take advantage of opportunities therein. Topics covered range from understanding regional arts histories, the art market and marketing arts practices, to application writing, legal matters and staying up-to-date with global trends in contemporary art concepts, curation and thinking.

Through this program, Art Jameel aims to equip artists with the know-how to take their practices to the next level and to help nurture Saudi’s growing, dynamic contemporary art landscape.

The four-month-long program is structured so that 3 modules are delivered over a combination of private and public lectures, seminars, workshops, focus groups and field trips. Three intensive, weeklong sessions in September, October, and December 2019 are accompanied by digital resources and assignments.

Sessions are delivered by local, regional and international guest speakers – artists, curators, gallerists, and other experts in their field – and supported by locally-based bilingual Art Jameel tutors, on a day-to-day basis.

Navigating the Contemporary Art Scene is open to artists based in Saudi Arabia who are over the age of 24 and are looking to develop a full-time career in the field. Applicants should if possible have a university degree and strong, bilingual communication skills. Moreover, they should be passionate about learning more about contemporary art, critical writing and art history. The deadline for applications is July 5, 2019