Al Balad Art Residency — gallery cover

Curatorial Ethos

The programme aims to create a thriving and sustainable cultural ecosystem that enriches local communities while stimulating creators from inside and outside the Kingdom to develop their practices and apply their work to the local context. It serves as a key step in advancing cultural entrepreneurship by providing professional art professionals with resources to explore new places, learn diverse cultures, and evolve their artistic practices.

Al Balad Art Residency is a fully-funded artist residency program established by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in 2020 as part of the "Advancing Cultural Entrepreneurship" initiative. Located in the historic Rubat Al Khunji building (built 1813) within Jeddah's UNESCO World Heritage district of Al Balad, it provides time, space, and collaboration opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists, curators, and writers. The second edition of the program is operated by Hafez Projects, offering multiple six-week cycles annually to support creative development and local community engagement.

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Hours, directions, and direct contact. For programme or press enquiries, use the contact form below.

Address

Historic Jeddah