Everything we know about the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024

The exciting event takes place from February 2024. 

Art lovers, unite. We have some exciting news. Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024 is back and it will run from 20 February to 24 May 2024. Taking place in Diriyah’s JAX District, here’s everything we know about the exciting event. 

The first Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale took place in December 2021. The theme was ‘feeling the stones’ and it brought together more than 70 artists. Established with the support of the Ministry of Culture, it aims to nurture the local art scene in the Kingdom. Since then, it has become a staple in the cultural calendar, and is a global platform that creates dialogue between the country and the rest of the world.

Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024 will be led by Artistic Director Ute Meta Bauer. Ute hails from Germany, and is the director of the Centre for Contemporary Art in Singapore. She has also served as the curator for the Istanbul Biennal in 2022. The additional curators for the event come from diverse backgrounds with a range of experiences: Romanian Anca Rujoiu, Indian Rahul Gudipudi, British Rose Lejeune and Wejdan Reda from Saudi Arabia. 

Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024 brings together local and international artists and architects. The event showcases how art is developed with a strong focus on collaborations, conversation and connections between communities. Plus, the participants include musicians, restaurateurs and traders.

This year, the London-born brand AOK Kitchen will have a pop-up there for the first time. The breakfast dishes include fluffy pancakes served with berries, organic maple syrup and coconut Chantilly cream, and the all-day dining highlights range from handmade gluten-free gnocchi to tender sirloin tagliata. The pop-up runs from 20 February to 24 May.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia hosted its first Islamic Art Biennale in Jeddah. The show brought together traditional and modern work from the Islamic world. The event included artwork about the Muslim experience, from daily prayers to Hajj. 

 Check in with FACT for the latest details. 

GO: Visit https://biennale.org.sa for more information.