0
0
What is unique about this partnership is that it forms part of a wider government agreement aiming to promote French expertise. It also stands out because of its ambition: Saudi Arabia has a strong, stated desire to invest in enhancing its cultural heritage, in particular by promoting contemporary art.
The AlUla site offers artists residencies, it has hosted works in exceptional natural spaces, and it is on the verge of becoming a place of intense creativity. At the same time, the RCU is planning to create a museum of contemporary art, to be run by artists. With this in mind, it has begun to acquire works by artists from the Arab world and several other continents in order to build up a collection that reflects the artistic challenges facing the world today. Centre Pompidou teams have been asked to provide support for this process.
What is unusual about this partnership?
Back in April 2018, Saudi Arabia and France signed an intergovernmental agreement on the sustainable development of the AlUla region and its transformation into a world-class cultural and tourist destination. Within this framework, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), which is responsible for coordinating this ambitious project, approached us at the Centre Pompidou for assistance in developing AlUla’s cultural, artistic and creative spaces.
The Centre will provide support in a range of scientific and technical areas, such as training staff in conservation, collection management and outreach. It will also be able to help organise cultural programming and events, in a spirit of reciprocity and exchange.
How did this partnership begin and what are its ambitions?
The precise phases and areas of collaboration are currently under
discussion with our Saudi partners. Training courses will be held
not only in Paris but also in AlUla, to help define the challenges
of the partnership on the ground. It will also involve providing
advice on how to welcome young visitors and involve them
in the various cultural sites. And finally, it will enable
the Centre Pompidou’s collections to travel around
the world and introduce the public to works by
international and Saudi artists, both
in Saudi Arabia and in Paris.
How will the partnership work in practice? Through what projects?
A memorandum of understanding was signed on March 12, 2023, at a ceremony attended by the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak. It established the principle of our partnership. An agreement detailing the fields of action of the Centre Pompidou and the duration of the collaboration will be finalised shortly.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on March 12, 2023, at a ceremony attended by the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak. It established
the principle of our partnership.
An agreement detailing the fields of action of the Centre Pompidou and the duration of the collaboration will be finalised shortly.
What are the scope and duration of the agreement between the Centre Pompidou and the RCU and what are the phases involved?
What are the scope and duration of the agreement between the Centre Pompidou and the RCU
and what are the phases involved?
This partnership is founded on collaboration and the sharing of experience and knowledge. With support from the Centre Pompidou, AlUla will be able to strengthen its position as a major player in modern and contemporary art, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the rest of the world. The Centre Pompidou will be able to continue to develop strong links with international cultural institutions, both through the loan of works and exhibition concepts and also through its expertise in cultural engineering.
How will this partnership help to raise the influence of AlUla and the Centre Pompidou in the Arab world and beyond?
BACK TO HOMEPAGE
TOP
NEXT
Back in April 2018, Saudi Arabia and France signed an intergovernmental agreement on the sustainable development of the AlUla region and its transformation into a world-class cultural and tourist destination. Within this framework, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), which is responsible for coordinating this ambitious project, approached us at the Centre Pompidou for assistance in developing AlUla’s cultural, artistic and creative spaces.
The Centre will provide support in a range of scientific and technical areas, such as training staff in conservation, collection management and outreach. It will also be able to help organise cultural programming and events, in a spirit of reciprocity and exchange.
What is unique about this partnership is that it forms part of a wider government agreement aiming to promote French expertise. It also stands out because of its ambition: Saudi Arabia has a strong, stated desire to invest in enhancing its cultural heritage, in particular by promoting contemporary art.
The AlUla site offers artists residencies, it has hosted works in exceptional natural spaces, and it is on the verge of becoming a place of intense creativity. At the same time, the RCU is planning to create a museum of contemporary art, to be run by artists. With this in mind, it has begun to acquire works by artists from the Arab world and several other continents in order to build up a collection that reflects the artistic challenges facing the world today. Centre Pompidou teams have been asked to provide support for this process.
The precise phases and areas of collaboration
are currently under discussion with our Saudi
partners. Training courses will be held not only
in Paris but also in AlUla, to help define
the challenges of the partnership on the ground.
It will also involve providing advice on how
to welcome young visitors and involve them
in the various cultural sites. And finally, it will enable
the Centre Pompidou’s collections to travel
around the world and introduce the public
to works by international and Saudi artists,
both in Saudi Arabia and in Paris.
- Share -
GO TO AFALULA.COM
READ PREVIOUS ISSUES
Subscribe to the newsletter
