Jeddah's Cultural Renaissance: From Al-Balad to BASMOCA
Jeddah, a fishing village with a history spanning over 2,500 years, has transformed into a prominent financial center and tourist hotspot in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Culture is currently renovating Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to maintain its historic architecture. Notable locations include Al-Mazloum, home to the Al-Shafi'i Mosque, and the bustling Al Alawi markets. The exhibition 'I Can See Land,' led by Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Issa, runs until March 9 at Balad Al-Fann, focusing on migration in the MENA region. Additionally, Art Jameel's 'At the Edge of Land' will be available until April 16, exploring Jeddah's identity, while 'Nawartuna' features renowned Egyptian actors Asmahan and Farid Al Atrash. BASMOCA, initiated by Basma Al Sulaiman, aims to support emerging artists through a digital collection.
Key facts
- Jeddah was founded over 2,500 years ago as a fishing village.
- Al-Balad has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014.
- Balad Al-Fann runs until March 9.
- Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Issa is the supervisor of the Jeddah Historic District Program.
- The exhibition 'I Can See Land' is curated by the collective Sindbad.
- Art Jameel's Saudi branch opened on December 6, 2021.
- 'At the Edge of Land' features 18 international artists and runs until April 16.
- Basma Al Sulaiman was the first woman awarded by the Saudi government for cultural contributions in 2014.
Entities
Artists
- Faisal Ag
- Sara Hammami
- Qamar Mohammed Abdulmalik
- Asmahan
- Farid Al Atrash
- Basma Al Sulaiman
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Ministry of Culture (Saudi Arabia)
- Jeddah Historic District Program
- Sindbad
- Art Jameel
- Red Sea International Film Festival
- BASMOCA
- Jeddah Sculpture Park
Locations
- Jeddah
- Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea
- Mecca
- Al-Balad
- Lake Al-Arbaeen
- Wadi Fatima
- India
- Al-Mazloum
- Al-Shafi'i Mosque
- Othman bin Affan Mosque
- Haret Al-Sham
- Haret Al-Bahr
- Haret Al-Yemen
- Al Alawi market
- Al Nada market
- Qabil market
- Sidi Bou Said
- Tunisia
- MENA region
- Middle East
- North Africa
- Sahara
- Rub' al Khali
- Al-Hejaz
- Bangladesh
- Yemen
- Egypt