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Saudi International Handicrafts Week Kicks Off in Riyadh

Saudi International Handicrafts Week Kicks Off in Riyadh
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Saudi International Handicrafts Week Kicks Off in Riyadh

Saudi International Handicrafts Week Kicks Off in Riyadh

Under the patronage of Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Commission, the activities of the "Saudi International Handicrafts Week" organized by the Heritage Commission were launched on Tuesday. They will last until June 12, state news agency SPA reported.

The event took place at Riyadh Front in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Culture and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Commission, Hamed bin Mohammad Fayez; the CEO of the Heritage Commission, Jasser Al-Harbash; and a gathering of local Arab and international experts and artisans.

The Deputy Minister of Culture delivered a speech at the ceremony in which he stressed the importance of the Saudi International Handicrafts Week in highlighting the creative artwork and craftwork, introducing the rich heritage of the Kingdom, and creating a platform to embrace craft skills and creations.

The Deputy Minister stressed that handicrafts could be described as economic and cultural projects, a field for job seekers and investment opportunities, and having an essential role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening national identity.

The opening ceremony witnessed a special musical concert, a documentary film about ancient crafts, and the story of the handicrafts’ inheritance hundreds of years ago.

The Saudi International Handicrafts Week is held in an area of 18,000 square meters at Riyadh Front in a design inspired by the heritage and traditional architectural style. The event allows artisans to display and sell their works in 11 sections: metal, textile, palm, leather, wooden and pottery handicrafts, crafts of binding and gilding, ornaments and jewelry, and embroidered handicrafts.

The Saudi International Handicrafts Week opens its doors to visitors this week, from 4 pm to 11 pm, except for Wednesday, June 7, when it opens from 2 pm to 10 pm.

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Ithra Showcases Art Collection for the First Time at Art Week Riyadh

Ithra showcases art collection for the first time at Art Week Riyadh. (SPA)
Ithra showcases art collection for the first time at Art Week Riyadh. (SPA)
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20
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Ithra Showcases Art Collection for the First Time at Art Week Riyadh

Ithra showcases art collection for the first time at Art Week Riyadh. (SPA)
Ithra showcases art collection for the first time at Art Week Riyadh. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) announced in a press release Monday its participation as an Exhibition Partner at the inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh.

This initiative of the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission is being held from April 6 –13, 2025, across key cultural sites in Riyadh, including JAX District and Al Mousa Center, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The event celebrates the nation’s dynamic art scene, bringing together leading local and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and arts enthusiasts, under the theme "At The Edge".

The release stated that during Art Week Riyadh, Ithra is presenting a curated selection of 15 significant works from its museum collection, titled "Landscape and Memory," as part of the event’s invited collections exhibition, under the title of "Collections in Dialogue”.

Spanning from the early 1900s to 2022, the display showcases a rich variety of artistic practices and cultural expressions. Featuring both regional and international artists, it includes sculptures, paintings, and installations, providing a captivating overview of Ithra’s prized art collection.

Moreover, the exhibition explores the interplay between material memory, transformation, and the landscapes that shape identity, questioning how history is preserved, reinterpreted, and reimagined through art. The exhibition portrays memory not only as a mark on the world but as a dynamic force that links us to the past while opening new possibilities for the future.

Featured artists and their works include the Saudi Arabian artist and film director Mohammed Alfaraj’s Fossils of Knowledge (2022), Maha Malluh’s Oil Candies (KSA - 2019), and three works by American artist Gregory Mahoney: Sea Land (1991), Five Gallons/Five Oceans (1995), and End of the World (1993).

Also on display are South Korean artist Do Ho Suh’s Screens (2005); three photographs by Saudi photographer Moath Aloufi, The Scene (2019), I Am the One (2019), and The Family (2019); as well as Italian master Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Persone in Comunicazione (2019); Lebanese calligraphy artist Joumana Medlej’s Who Am I? (2015); and Saudi eclectic artist Sultan bin Fahad’s Sultan Bin Fahad 1440 AH (2016). Additionally, Palestinian sculptor Abdul Rahman Katanani’s Tornado (2020); Palestinian artist Hazem Harb’s The Place is Mine, Series #3 (2019); and Egyptian painter and sculptor Moataz Nasr’s Burning (2019) are also part of the exhibition.

The release emphasized that the exhibition provides a glimpse into Ithra’s diverse collection, highlighting its variety and celebrating the vibrancy of contemporary art.

Head of Museum at Ithra Farah Abushullaih said, "Ithra’s participation in Art Week Riyadh is an opportunity to celebrate creative expression and embrace diverse artistic and cultural perspectives. It is an opportunity to share a glimpse of the Ithra Museum and its rich collection of works."