Diriyah: The Saudi Diriyah Arts Center has inaugurated the Diriyah Future Arts Center, marking the establishment of the first media arts center in the Middle East and North Africa. The center recently opened its second “Continuity” exhibition at its Diriyah location, featuring creations from the second cycle of the Emerging Artists in New Media program alongside works by the program’s mentors.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the opening event introduced visitors to a wide array of technical practices and artistic works, including immersive installations, multimedia displays, and projects utilizing light, sound, animation, virtual reality, mixed reality, and AI. “Continuity 26” highlights pieces developed by 16 emerging artists over a yearlong program, guided by curator Irene Papadimitriou and assistant curator Bushra Alghamdi, with mentorship from Louis Philippe Demers and Rick Trewick.

The showcased works address themes of memory, identity, place, and belonging, exploring the interface between humanity and technology, and the real versus the artificial. In collaboration with the National Studio of Contemporary Art Louvrenois in France, the program provides artists with professional equipment, a production budget, and learning opportunities to enhance their artistic endeavors.

Engineer Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Hammad, CEO of the Museums Authority, emphasized the strategic investment in fostering a creative generation to shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and museum landscape. He highlighted the comprehensive facilities, mentorship, and opportunities offered to artists, underlining the belief that investing in creativity is a vital cultural investment.

Visitors to the exhibition can also participate in a public program featuring workshops, panel discussions, and activities focused on artificial intelligence, virtual reality, digital photography, and other new media art forms. The opening weekend includes a “Meet the Artists” event, offering insights into the artists’ perspectives and creative processes.