Art in the heart of historic Jeddah 
Situated on the eastern shore of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, it has always turned to face the world, embracing the cultures and characters who have passed through it since it became a gateway port on the Indian Ocean trading route in the seventh century A.D.
This week sees the city’s doors opening to global visitors once again, as the international art community descends on Jeddah to attend Art for Al-Balad: A Charity Auction.
Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and held in partnership with Christie’s auction house, the art sale is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and will take place in the heart of the Jeddah historical district, one of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.
The proceeds of the sale will go to two local Jeddah causes: The Help Center, a non-profit organization which supports children with special educational needs, and a dedicated heritage museum that will tell the story of Al-Balad’s unique history.
More than 40 artists from the Arab world have donated pieces to the auction – half of them Saudis. They include “Where To,” a painting by Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, one of the Kingdom’s well-known poets, who also had a love for the arts in the broader sense and studied fine art at university in the UK.
By donating their work, these artists have not only shown the wealth of talent that exists in the Kingdom but have demonstrated how art and culture have the potential to transform lives.
This principle is at the heart of everything we do at the Ministry of Culture; our ambition is to create a culture sector that enriches lives. But we must also continue to provide our artists with access to platforms that facilitate creative expression and allow them to reach out to people, both at home and abroad.
This year’s Venice Biennale, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in art in St. Petersburg, La Scala’s first performance in Riyadh, and now Art for Al-Balad, are examples of how Saudi culture is building bridges of dialogue with the world.
In the Art for Al-Balad auction catalogue, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud, said: “It is one of my great privileges as Minister of Culture to witness how different communities come together to support each other. Seeing the international art world supporting the needs of the societies from which they so often take their inspiration is a testament to its compassion.”
We thank His Highness for his leadership and vision in leading the Kingdom’s cultural transformation and join him in the journey of flourishing arts across the nation, witnessing how it is bringing international visitors to Jeddah’s shores.
- Abdulkarim Al-Humaid is a public relations manager and spokesman at the Ministry of Culture.
