The Visual Arts Authority invited the public to visit the 'Open Studio' event as part of the 'Liqa' Residency' program, held at Studio I08 in Jax District in Diriyah from July 28 to 30.

This is part of the authority's efforts to enhance cultural exchange and provide artistic experiences to the public, with free entry available to everyone.

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The authority explained that the event marks the culmination of the second edition of the 'Liqa' Residency' program, which hosted over three months 13 male and female artists and a curator from Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Serbia, China, Japan, and Palestine. During this period, they worked on developing new artistic projects exploring diverse practices and disciplines in an environment based on research, experimentation, and exchange of expertise.

Direct interaction with artists

The authority stated that the 'Open Studio' event offers visitors the opportunity to view the artworks created during the residency and interact directly with the artists and the curator through a diverse program including presentations, workshops, discussions, and dialogues, thereby enhancing dialogue about the creative ideas and practices that shaped these works. It added that the program leveraged the cultural and knowledge resources of Riyadh through collaboration with the Diriyah Center for Future Arts, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Worth), and the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (King Abdulaziz Darah).

In addition, visits were organized to the King Fahd National Library and the National Museum, as well as a field trip to the heritage village of Ushaiqer and its museum, allowing participants to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom, while also engaging with the contemporary art scene in the Jax District.

Development of artistic projects

The Visual Arts Authority affirmed that the program provided a shared space for participants to develop their artistic projects through mentoring sessions, workshops, and critical discussions, creating an environment conducive to research, experimentation, and collective learning. It noted that the 'Liqa' Residency' program is one of its pioneering initiatives aimed at supporting artistic practices, enhancing knowledge exchange, and building a creative environment connected to regional and international contexts, thereby contributing to the development of the art scene in the Kingdom and achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It emphasized its continued delivery of initiatives that expand opportunities for community participation in contemporary arts and provide high-quality artistic experiences for the public.