Riyadh's Cultural Boom: Fenaa Alawwal Center Opens Amid Infrastructure Surge

In December, Fenaa Alawwal, a cultural hub established by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated within a repurposed bank structure located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter. The center's first exhibition, titled Memory Deposit and curated by Tala Al Ghamdi, showcased pieces by artists Alia Ahmad and Basmah Felemban until February 28. Amenities at the center feature a coffee shop, an art library, and a sculpture garden, which includes works commissioned from Saddek Wasil, Nagi Farid, and Ugo Rondinone. While this initiative stands in contrast to larger projects like the JAX creative district in Diriyah and the forthcoming Black Gold Museum and Royal Arts Complex, the commercial gallery landscape remains fragile, with artists struggling for sustainability amidst uncertainties regarding Jeddah's sac organization and the Shara art fair. The Misk Art Institute continues its programming, featuring a show by Wassan Al-Khudairi.