By Art Bridges by Saudi Visual Arts Commission concludes
Following a year of international exchange, the Art Bridges 2025-2026 initiative, was successfully completed to strengthen dialogue and creative experiences for Saudi and Saudi-based artists. The programme helmed by Saudi Arabia’s Visual Arts Commission was hosted in Scotland, Japan, South Korea and Spain bringing together 40 visual artists, cultural practitioners, creative professionals and cultural producers.
Across four programmes, the participants explored how artists, institutions and creative communities approach shared challenges including supporting emerging talent, engaging audiences, preserving cultural heritage and developing sustainable careers in the arts sector. The exchanges provided an equally valuable opportunity for participants to share their own experiences of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving visual arts sector. Conversations frequently turned to the Kingdom’s cultural development, giving international counterparts greater insight into its artistic landscape, while opening the door to future professional relationships and collaboration.
“Our objective in launching Art Bridges was to create opportunities whose impact would continue long after participants returned home,” said Dina Amin, chief executive officer of the Visual Arts Commission. “Throughout the season, we have seen artists and cultural practitioners build relationships with peers around the world while sharing their own experiences of Saudi Arabia’s evolving visual arts sector. We hope the conversations and connections that began through these programmes will continue to influence their work in the years ahead.”
The Visual Arts Commission is one of the 11 sector-specific commissions under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture. Founded in 2020, it is leading the development of the visual arts sector in the Kingdom. The Commission is working to nurture the talent of art enthusiasts, practitioners, and professionals in the country, and support the production and exhibition of artwork in all its forms, locally and internationally.
Art Bridges forms part of the Visual Arts Commission’s broader efforts to support the professional development of Saudi cultural practitioners, strengthen international cultural engagement and expand opportunities for global collaboration, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The season concluded with a closing gathering in Riyadh in mid-July, bringing together the four cohorts for the first time to compare experiences from each destination and view a short documentary highlighting the initiative.