The Royal Commission for AlUla has selected six international artists for its brand-new artist residency program, which will run until December and has the objectives of fostering creativity, involving communities, and highlighting AlUla’s natural beauty.
Three men and three women from various countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Morocco, the Philippines, and the US, made up the group after it was narrowed down from an initial list of 35 and a shortlist of 16. The selection criteria included a combination of technical proficiency, prior research initiatives, connection with the goals of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and the candidate’s aptitude for working in a novel setting. The six artists include Saudi nationals Mohammad al-Faraj and Daniah al-Saleh, as well as Emirati artist Dr. Afra Atiq, Moroccan-Canadian artist M’hammed Kilito, French-American artist Sabine Mirlesse, and Filipino artist Augustine Paredes.
The artists’ applications were evaluated by a judging panel that included AlUla’s Nora Aldabal, executive director of arts and creative industries, Sumantro Ghose, director of artistic programming, Ali Alghazzawi, lead for creative opportunities, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Iwona Blazwick, chairwoman of the public art expert panel at the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Arnaud Morand, head of innovation and creation at Afalula.
The most valuable resource of all—time—will be made available to these six artists through the artist-in-residence program, according to Blazwick. It’s an opportunity for them to leave everything they are accustomed to behind and navigate a brand-new location and environment. The goal is to foster cross-cultural and geopolitical discourse while also observing what occurs when outsiders are welcomed into such a vibrant setting.
These artists will collaborate on-site with archaeologists, botanists, water specialists, craftspeople, experts in Asian agro-systems, and scientists studying perfume to engage with the environment and cultural history of AlUla. All of this specialized knowledge serves to provide the artists with a perspective on how the land is used.
At Mabiti AlUla, a palm grove and hotel, the group will also investigate antiquated practices and customs from local ancient civilizations in the past, such as the Dadanites and the Nabataeans.
According to the release, the continuing research will be displayed during an Open Studio in December and will “propose a fresh perspective on how to give a new lease of life to the land and to make sure it is tied to its mythical history.”