The first Islamic Arts Biennale will be held in Jeddah in 2023
Artists from around the world will explore Islamic arts and culture…
Calling all art fans. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced that Jeddah will be the proud hosts of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, which is scheduled to take place early next year.
Whether you are looking to learn or get inspired by Islamic arts and culture, this promises to be an exciting event. The festival is on a mission to celebrate Saudi Arabia as the birthplace of Islam. In the process, there will be an artistic exchange with communities from around the world.
During the Islamic Arts Biennale, artists have been invited to explore spirituality and its aesthetics, from the past to present. The hope is that it will spark new conversations and insights.
In 2021, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation launched Saudi Arabia’s first contemporary art biennale in JAX district, Diriyah. While the Islamic Arts Biennale was originally planned for Riyadh, it is now coming to Jeddah, which means there’s yet another reason to visit the artsy city.
The cultural city is a fitting location, as it has historical sites such as Bab Makkah, and is the gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
View this post on Instagram
His Highness Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, said: “Cultural and artistic exchange are essential in this period of unprecedented growth and development in the creative community in Saudi Arabia.”
“The Diriyah Biennale Foundation is at the forefront of this cultural awakening and flourishing art scene. Our contemporary edition closed in March after attracting critical acclaim, and the Islamic Arts Biennale represents our next chapter.”
While the exact date hasn’t yet been announced, we do know that Saudi Arabia will be holding a biennale every year. The biennale will alternate between a Contemporary Art Biennale and Islamic Art Biennale.
Bring on the art.
The Biennale Foundation, biennale.org.sa
Images: Provided