Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
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Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA

The Ministry of Culture's Jeddah Historic District Program is currently showcasing a plethora of archaeological discoveries at the heritage Nassif House, unearthed during a recent excavation campaign. Among these treasures are ancient ebony pillars from the Othman bin Affan Mosque mihrab, dating back to the early Hijri centuries.
The program had earlier revealed the discovery of about 25,000 artefacts and remnants of archaeological materials dating back to the first and second Hijri centuries at historical sites, including the Othman bin Affan Mosque, sections of the eastern moat, and the northern wall. This discovery is part of an archaeological initiative managed by the Jeddah Historic District Program, SPA reported.
Situated in the Al-Alawi Market within Historic Jeddah, Al-Balad, Nassif House holds immense historical importance, particularly since it served as the residence of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud during the initial years of his reign in Jeddah.
This initiative reflects the program's commitment to enriching the visitor experience, showcasing the region's archaeological treasures, emphasizing historically significant sites, and preserving them. It also aims to bolster Historic Jeddah's position as a cultural hub, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 regarding heritage preservation.



Diriyah Art Futures Launches Emerging New Media Artists Program

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
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Diriyah Art Futures Launches Emerging New Media Artists Program

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), a pioneering new media arts center in Saudi Arabia, has announced the 12 successful applicants to its inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Program, which is launching later this year.
The program includes a diverse array of promising talents representing a broad range of creative practices and backgrounds, with strong representation from Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Running for one year, the fully funded program offers access to cutting-edge professional equipment and facilities, a production budget, learning experiences with international guest specialists in new media art, and personal mentorships from prominent international digital artists.

The inaugural group of emerging new media artists includes:
- Salma Aly (Egypt), specializing in interactive art.
- Samia Dzaïr (Algeria-France), a two-dimensional (2D) and stop-motion animator.
- Aya Abu Ghazaleh (Jordan), a visual artist and art therapist.
- Dhia Dhibi (Tunisia), a multidisciplinary artist, curator and researcher.
- Khaled Makshoush (Saudi Arabia), who specializes in pixel art.
- William Brooks (Wales), an artist exploring sound art through physical objects.
- Haonan He (China), who merges cartography, instrument making, and digital tech.
- Turki Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia), a media artist and filmmaker reflecting Arab motifs.
- Youssef El Idrissi (Morocco), a multidisciplinary artist, cultural engineer, and researcher.
- Kyle Donald Marais (South Africa), an extended-reality (XR) developer and creative technologist.
- Mohamed Al Mubarak (Bahrain), a documentary filmmaker and video artist.
- Almuqawil Meshal (Saudi Arabia), an independent artist and curator.

Designed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy-Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the program is part of a wider partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Diriyah Company to facilitate creativity across art, technology, and academia.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art and empower the next generation of creative pioneers.

DAF aims to pioneer new horizons for creative practice in diverse fields where art intersects with science and technology. It was established through an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, standing as the first center dedicated to new media and digital arts in the MENA region.

The center also serves as a space for creators from around the world to collaborate, think, and innovate, focusing on research, documentation, and the production of new inspiring works.

Additionally, DAF provides artists and researchers with an opportunity to participate in its scheduled activities, including public events and educational programs, while also offering them residency programs.

The center seeks to contribute to enriching the Saudi artistic scene and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for new media and digital arts. It highlights the talents of active artists in the region, allowing them to leave their impactful mark on art, science, and technology.