RIYADH – The Ministry of Culture has launched the ‘Art Residency’ Program within the Quality of Life initiatives, one of the programs for achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Sunday.

Through the program, the ministry will host Saudi and international artists and critics in residences in the Kingdom during specific periods, with the aim of creating a suitable environment conducive to cultural dialogue and exchange of know-how and experiences.

This comes within the sphere of the ministry’s commitment to provide care for and develop the artistic talents in various fields of creativity.

The launch of the program under the title “An art residency in Al Balad”, where Jeddah’s Historic Area in Al Balad District will hold the program’s courses, each with a duration of six weeks.

The courses will focus on social awareness, professional development and critical thinking. Participation will be open to artists, evaluators (appraisers?) of works of art, and Saudi and international critics.

The Ministry of Culture has opened the door for submitting applications to join the program via the electronic platform: https://engage.moc.gov.sa/artresidency

The ‘artresidency: Al Balad’ program is set to be launched at Rubat Al-Khinji Building in Jeddah’s Al Balad District. The building was constructed in the year 1813. In the past, it was used as a guesthouse for women, widows and single women.

This building remained deserted for a long time until it was renovated recently to host cultural events and chosen for hosting arts residencies, after the Ministry of Culture introduced improvements in it.

“Artresidency” is considered to be part of the programs being held by the Ministry of Culture, to develop talents in the various cultural sectors and specifically the visual arts, facilitating the exchange (of know-how and experiences) between international and Saudi artists so as to support continuous development of the cultural sector in the Kingdom.

The “Artresidency” program aims to spread awareness on Saudi arts and culture among the local, regional and international audience, create awareness in the society via the general programs that contribute to evaluating and understanding contemporary art, and filling the gaps between them and the local society.

This is in addition to setting up a platform for the exchange of know-how among the local, regional and international communities and presenting local and global art practices to the Saudi audience. — SPA