Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has been hard at work over the last year making Crown King Mohammed Bin Salman’s Vision 2030 a reality. And new auction-cum-exhibition, Art for Al Balad: A Charity Auction, is due to cement that Kingdom’s place in the art world.
Organized by the ministry, in partnership with auction powerhouse Christie’s, the event will see over 40 works of contemporary art (including pieces by Arab artists from across the region like Saudi artists such as Maha Malluh, Sultan Bin Fahad, and Ahmad Angawi, Ayman Zedani, and Iraqi artist Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, Lebanese painter Oussama Baalbaki, and Tunisian artist Nja Mahdaoui to name a few).
The proceeds from the auction are set to fund a new heritage museum in Jeddah’s historic district, Al Balad. Part of the proceeds will also go to non-profit organization, the Help Centre, which provides support for children with special education needs.
“A dedicated Al Balad Museum is an important cause that will play a crucial role in historic Jeddah’s preservation and regeneration. It will showcase a part of Saudi Arabia’s heritage to a wide audience and ensure that culture is embedded into Saudi citizens’ everyday lives for generations to come,” said Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah in a statement.
The historic district (which sits on the UNESCO world heritage sites list alongside Al Ula’s archeological wonder, Madain Saleh) is home to some of the Kingdom’s oldest buildings, with hundreds of multi-story homes made of coral stone that date back all the way back to the 19th century.
Art for Al Balad: A Charity Auction, June 26, Nassif House, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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