DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Visual Arts Commission has concluded the 2025–2026 edition of its Art Bridges initiative, bringing to a close a year-long international exchange program designed to strengthen ties between the Kingdom’s visual arts sector and creative communities around the world.
The initiative involved 40 Saudi and Saudi Arabia-based visual artists, cultural practitioners, creative professionals and cultural producers, who took part in a series of international exchanges aimed at fostering collaboration, professional development and cross-cultural dialogue.
The programs were hosted in Scotland, Japan, South Korea and Spain.
Reflecting on the program’s conclusion, Dina Amin, chief executive of the Visual Arts Commission, said: “Our objective in launching Art Bridges was to create opportunities whose impact would continue long after participants returned home.
“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 programs will continue to influence their work in the years ahead.”
Participants in the four exchange programs explored how artists, cultural institutions and creative organizations from different countries addressed common challenges, including supporting emerging talent, building audience engagement, preserving cultural heritage and developing sustainable careers in the arts.
The program concluded with a gathering in Riyadh this month, at which participants from all four cohorts came together to reflect on their experiences. The event also featured the screening of a short documentary charting the initiative and its impact over the past year.
Art Bridges is part of the Visual Arts Commission’s wider strategy to support the professional growth of artists and cultural practitioners while strengthening the Kingdom’s international cultural engagement. The initiative also aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to expand the country’s creative industries and deepen cultural exchange on a global scale.
Established in 2020 under the Ministry of Culture, the Visual Arts Commission is one of 11 sector-specific commissions working to develop Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape.
