Saudi Visual Arts Commission Releases 'Public Art: A Comprehensive Reference and Guiding Principles'

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
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Saudi Visual Arts Commission Releases 'Public Art: A Comprehensive Reference and Guiding Principles'

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has announced the launch of Public Art: A Comprehensive Reference and Guiding Principles, available in both quick and full editions.

The initiative aims to elevate public art practices and enhance the quality of artistic projects within urban spaces through a practical and knowledge-based framework informed by leading international principles and best practices in the field.

The reference builds on the commission's ongoing efforts to develop the public art ecosystem as one of the vital tracks contributing to the enrichment of the visual landscape, the enhancement of quality of life, and the embedding of visual arts in the everyday life of society, further reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as a supportive environment for creativity and contemporary artistic practices, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to foster cultural development and enhance quality of life.

It also provides knowledge-based and practical content tailored to a wide range of entities, practitioners, and interested audiences, covering key guidelines and best practices related to the planning, implementation, and management of public art projects.

The reference aims to raise awareness of the field, unify concepts associated with public art, and strengthen integration across artistic, urban, and cultural dimensions.

The reference is available in both editions through the Visual Arts Commission website, as part of the commission's continued efforts to broaden access to specialized knowledge, advance professional practices, and support the growth of the visual arts sector in Saudi Arabia.



Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
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Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA

The Ministry of Culture has signed an executive program with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to establish a cooperative framework to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and advance shared Arab cultural goals.

Thursday’s agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices.

It also includes formulating recommendations for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and showcasing living Arab heritage practices on the international stage to unify regional preservation efforts.

Building upon a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the ministry and ALECSO, the executive program underscores both parties' commitment to broadening institutional partnerships that ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage.


Visual Arts Commission Marks Saudi National Day with Cultural Campaign

Visual Arts Commission logo
Visual Arts Commission logo
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Visual Arts Commission Marks Saudi National Day with Cultural Campaign

Visual Arts Commission logo
Visual Arts Commission logo

The Visual Arts Commission has launched a cultural campaign for Saudi National Day, evoking national memory, culture, and shared lived experiences through visual art.

Centered around the question "What is a homeland?", the initiative explores how art intersects with the details of everyday life, inviting community members to contribute their personal stories, reflections, and cherished memories to the national narrative.

By positioning art as a platform for self-expression and cultural reflection, the initiative highlights individual experiences that shape collective Saudi identity.

The campaign aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to support culture and the arts, expand their footprint in society, and reinforce national heritage within the Kingdom's evolving cultural and artistic landscape.


Two Unseen Monet Paintings to be Sold in Paris

A visitor takes a picture of the painting "Iris, 1924-1925" by French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) during the presentation of 28 art works from the Schlumberger Collection ahead of the auction at Sotheby's auction house in Paris, France, September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor
A visitor takes a picture of the painting "Iris, 1924-1925" by French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) during the presentation of 28 art works from the Schlumberger Collection ahead of the auction at Sotheby's auction house in Paris, France, September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor
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Two Unseen Monet Paintings to be Sold in Paris

A visitor takes a picture of the painting "Iris, 1924-1925" by French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) during the presentation of 28 art works from the Schlumberger Collection ahead of the auction at Sotheby's auction house in Paris, France, September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor
A visitor takes a picture of the painting "Iris, 1924-1925" by French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) during the presentation of 28 art works from the Schlumberger Collection ahead of the auction at Sotheby's auction house in Paris, France, September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor

Two paintings by the Impressionist master Claude Monet that have never been shown in public are to be sold in Paris next month by the Schlumberger family of France, auction house Sotheby's said Thursday.

"Iris", a large painting Monet completed toward the end of his life, has been valued at 22 million to 30 million euros ($25-34 million), which represents "the highest estimate ever given for a painting offered at auction in France", Sotheby's said as it unveiled the sale at its Paris headquarters.

It has never left the Schlumberger family's home in Paris after being acquired by Jeanne Schlumberger (1889-1983), who was described as "a brilliant art collector" by Sotheby's art department co-head Thomas Bompard, AFP reported.

Alongside "Iris", three other canvases by Monet are included in the sale on October 22, among them "Saule Pleureur" (Weeping Willow), valued at 9-12 million euros.

This photograph shows French painter Claude Monet's La maison a travers les roses (The House Seen Through the Roses), during a preview of 28 Impressionist works from the Schlumberger Collection, unveiled ahead of the October 22, 2026, sale at Sotheby's auction house in Paris on September 17, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / AFP)

The sale comes in the year marking the centenary of Monet's death on December 5, 1926, which is being commemorated by two Paris exhibitions opening in late September: "Monet, Painting Time" and "Stories of Landscapes, from Monet to Hockney."

The Schlumberger collection, which will be shown in Hong Kong and New York before the sale, also includes three works by Paul Cezanne, among them "La Ferme" (The Farm), "the largest work by the artist ever to be offered at auction," estimated at 600,000 to 800,000 euros.