Sofia Carson shows off Elie Saab gown on the red carpet

RIYADH: The Cultural Development Fund is offering exclusive souvenirs during ART Week Riyadh, designed for visitors in collaboration with Saudi visual artists.

Organized by the Saudi Visual Arts Commission, the eight-day event is running until April 13 at the JAX District in Diriyah, under the theme “At the Edge.”

The fund is a programming partner in the inaugural edition of ART Week Riyadh, and presents an exclusive collection of artworks at its pavilion, created in collaboration with leading figures in the visual arts sector.

Among the standout exhibits are limited-edition souvenirs, designed in partnership with renowned Saudi visual artists Lulwah Al-Homoud and Faisal Al-Kheriji.

The scheme seeks to promote local talent while celebrating unique artistic expression.

The fund’s activities include a workshop titled “Cultural Financing for the Visual Arts Sector,” which highlights available funding opportunities to support businesses throughout the entire value chain of the sector.

The fund’s involvement highlights its steadfast commitment to advancing cultural projects and nurturing creative production across all 16 cultural sectors, including the visual arts.

Nawaf Al-Owain, executive director of marketing and communications at the Cultural Development Fund, highlighted the organization as a pivotal financial force in Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape.

Al-Owain told Arab News: “Our participation in ART Week Riyadh and other major cultural and developmental events is part of the fund’s commitment to aligning its efforts with both the cultural and developmental landscapes.

“These platforms enable us to engage directly with entrepreneurs and companies in the cultural sector, introducing them to the financial and non-financial solutions offered by the Community Arts Development Fund to support the launch and growth of their projects,” Al-Owain added.

The fund’s pavilion serves as a dynamic platform for engaging with entrepreneurs in the visual arts sector, offering in-depth insights into the cultural funding programs provided by the fund and showcasing its solutions that support the growth of creative projects, he said.

Its activities aim to broaden access to sector opportunities, while also aligning with the objectives of the National Culture Strategy to support the development of a sustainable and thriving cultural sector in Saudi Arabia, Al-Owain added.

Through its participation, the fund highlights the opportunities it offers to empower the visual arts sector, and foster a supportive environment for expanding cultural projects, he said.

RIYADH: Some of the Kingdom’s leading artists — including Ahmed Mater, Moath Alofi, and Rashed AlShashai — are opening their warehouse-sized doors during the inaugural Art Week Riyadh at JAX District, which runs until April 13.

It is always a treat to walk into active art studios as it is the most intimate way to immerse yourself in an artist’s world. You see half-baked ideas, abandoned projects, rough drafts, and final pieces, all in one space. For art lovers it offers a rare glimpse into the process and world-building of the artist.

On the day of our visit interested onlookers from all walks of life wandered in, soaking in the sights, sounds, and textures all around. Some artists offered bottled water and places to sit. Visitors were invited to sketch, daydream, or take a closer look at the materials on hand. It was fun and engaging.

Many of the artists dropped into their studios as people trickled — or stormed — in, engaging with those eager to ask questions, share comments, or snap selfies.

Artists at JAX often wander into other studios between projects, collaborating or simply exchanging ideas. That organic interaction supports a thriving creative ecosystem and fosters much-needed artist-to-artist connection.

JAX is a walkable district, but golf cart buggies are also available to shuttle visitors between studios if they would rather ride and enjoy the warm breeze.

While some studios are adjacent and others are shared, this invitation from the Art Week Riyadh team — spearheaded by the Visual Arts Commission — offers a vibrant glimpse into the richness of the evolving Saudi art scene.