المملكة: “Noor Riyadh” transformed the capital into a global center for the arts

As part of the Noor Riyadh celebration in its fourth edition for the year 2024, under the slogan “Between the Pleiades and the Pleiades,” a dialogue session was held in the Jax neighborhood in Diriyah entitled “The Light and the City.”
The session highlighted the impact of art and lighting in shaping the identity of cultural and artistic cities, and explored the pivotal role of celebration in transforming Riyadh into a global artistic center.
The session was moderated by the artist and researcher Moaz Al-Awfi, and the director of the Nour Al-Riyadh celebration, Eng. Nouf Al-Munif, and artist Abdullah Al-Othman.

Riyadh’s cultural and artistic identity

The two speakers discussed the role of light arts in shaping the relationship between the city and its residents, and how the celebration contributes to stimulating critical thinking and promoting cultural exchange between local and international artists.

M touched upon Nouf Al-Munif, about the development of Riyadh’s cultural and artistic identity through celebration.
She stressed that it contributed to highlighting the cultural identity of the city and transforming it into an arts center that combines authenticity and contemporaryity, just as Riyadh has become a center for art.
This is demonstrated through continuous interaction with contemporary cultural and artistic movements.
She pointed out that the celebration contributes mainly to achieving the goals of the Riyadh Art Program, which aims to transform the capital into an open art gallery, enhancing its position as a global art center.

Celebration promotes community participation

Nouf Al-Munif said: The celebration enhanced community participation, as art became a part of people’s daily lives, and it also made Riyadh shine on the global cultural and artistic map.

She added: The celebration represents a bridge for cultural exchange between more than 400 local and international artists, which enriched the artistic scene through its integration of diverse cultures, and strengthened Riyadh’s position on the map of global artistic cultural destinations.

Exploring the identity of cities

Artist Abdullah Al-Othman spoke about the importance of sensory elements in exploring the identity of cities.
He said: “Sensory elements such as light and smell play an essential role in enhancing people’s connection to the city, and contribute to creating interactive sensory experiences that reflect the cultural identity of the place.”
He explained that through the Nour Riyadh celebration, art became a means of strengthening this relationship between the city and its residents, which contributed to developing a deeper understanding of Riyadh’s cultural and artistic identity, and presenting it as a global artistic center.

Works that reflect cultural and creative diversity

The Nour Riyadh celebration, one of the projects of the “Riyadh Art” program, will continue until the 14th in 3 main centers.
These centers are: King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifa, and Jax Neighborhood.
These centers include artistic works that reflect cultural and creative diversity, and include a community partnership program that offers a number of community activities, such as dialogue sessions and workshops.
In addition to guided tours for visitors, to contribute to creating a unique and exceptional experience.