From March 18 to April 3, the Saudi capital will host the Noor Riyadh Festival; a 17-day light festival featuring interactive artwork and lighting displays in multiple locations in the city. Lighting artists from more than 20 countries will take part in the festival, almost half of them from Saudi Arabia.
The Noor Riyadh festival is the first event organized by the Riyadh Art Program, one of four major projects launched by King Salman in March 2019, with the aim of transforming the capital Riyadh into a city that has both traditional and contemporary elements to it.
The event will feature 60 artworks that include sculptures, outdoor installations, and interactive light shows.
From March 18 until June 12, 2021, visitors will also be able to visit the conference center at the King Abdullah Financial District, which boasts an impressive light display, and is divided into four pavilions. Visitors in these pavilions can experience spectacular light shows and enjoy the work of artists from across the world.
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture, said in an interview with Riyadh Art that the Noor Riyadh event is part of the comprehensive goals and objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, with the aim of enhancing the cultural and artistic aspects of the city. He went on to say that the festival will enrich life in the city of Riyadh by promoting art in public places, fostering local art movements, and encouraging more creativity and innovation.
A host of stellar names in the art industry will be present at the festival, most notably Ahmed Mater, Lulwah Al-Homoud, Ayman Zidani, Rashed Al-Shashai, and Maha Mallouh locally. International artists Daniel Buren, Carsten Holler, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Yayoi Kusama, and Dan Flavin, will also be in attendance.
