From March 18, Noor Riyadh, a first-of-its-kind annual festival of light and art, will illuminate Riyadh ‘Under One Sky.' Over 60 artists from more than 20 countries will be portrayed, with Saudi Arabia hailing almost 40% of the whole number.

The launch edition of Noor Riyadh includes large-scale public installations in Riyadh, a landmark exhibition, Light Upon Light: Light Art since the 1960s. It’s a diverse program of special events, such as tours, talks, seminars, family activities, video, and music, all of which will be accessible online to reach a wider audience.

The event is the first of the Riyadh Art project's programs to be launched. It is expected to have a long-term impact by encouraging artistic creativity and fostering the city's creative economy.

Riyadh Art is one of the four main projects under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City's mandate. It has more than 1,000 public art installations spread through ten initiatives and is supported by two annual festivals.

His Highness, Prince Badr Bin Farhan Al-Saud, a member of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City's City Board and also the Chairman of the Riyadh Art Project's Steering Committee says that the project aims to convert Riyadh into a gallery without walls and transform the capital into one of the world's most livable, environmentally friendly, and prosperous cities, in accord with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.

Noor Riyadh aims at creating a dialogue between tradition and modernity and the city’s past and future. At the same time with its curated program, it honors Riyadh’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Riyadh has aimed to reflect Saudi Arabia’s tradition of international exchange at the crossroads of East and West, through this festival that portrays the 2021 theme ‘Under One Sky’.

This inaugural edition of the light festival brings together a diverse community of artists to Riyadh, some of them are the most well-known international and regional artists. It is also providing a transformative forum for an increasing number of local artists. Saudi artists Ahmed Mater, Lulwah Al Homoud, Ayman Zedani, Rashed Al Shashai, and Maha Malluh, as well as international artists Daniel Buren, Carsten Höller, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Yayoi Kusama, and Dan Flavin, are among the 63 participating artists.

The brilliant minds behind Noor Riyadh, Citywide Installations are Eiman Elgibreen and Pam Toonen. Elgibreen is a Riyadh-based artist and Assistant Professor of Art History at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh.

Toonen is a curator and artistic director who has worked and consulted with a variety of Dutch cultural and educational institutions in Netherlands.

Another two brilliant artists behind the concept of Light Upon Light exhibition are Raneem Farsi and Susan Davidson. Farsi is a Saudi Curator and Art Advisor. Davidson, a curator and art historian, also hails an authority in the fields of Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art, with an expertise in the art of Robert Rauschenberg.

Artists are being encouraged to create works that react to inclusivity and shared humanity. It implies the innate human desire to gather around light, to look into a campfire's flames, and to gaze at the stars.

Although the English version of the theme is immediately relatable to a global audience, the Arabic words mean "we gather under one sky."

Noor Riyadh aims to bring outdoor citywide installations to the residents of Riyadh, which will be surrounded by all forms of light art, sculptures, projections, interactive shows, kinetic and immersive pieces. All these activities will be scheduled virtually throughout the city, to enhance community participation.

Talk tours, volunteering in workshops, activities, and performances will provide great opportunities to young participants to enter in creative industry and gain experience.

More than 30 works of art have been installed throughout the city in multiple locations keeping two main hubs, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center (KAHC). They will illuminate the whole city from Mar. 18 — April 3.

Since 1960, Light Upon Light is a retrospective exhibition of light art. It is divided into four sections, “rays”, survey light as an artistic medium of, “Perceiving Light,” “Experiencing Light,” “Projecting Light,” and “Environmental Light.”

Each ray aims to blend time and unite artists from different regions. This exhibition serves the purpose to showcase an innovative way to promote Saudi culture and almost 30 works of art. (Mar. 18 — June 12). The venue will be the King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center.

Riyadh, being the capital of Saudi Arabia is on a ten-year mission to become one of the most livable and competitive cities, in the whole world. It aims to be a global city that welcomes the world to be its part. With its vibrant young population of seven-plus million residents and transform itself into a vibrant, cosmopolitan, global city.

With art in its all forms, Riyadh managed to bag the accolade as the cultural capital of the Arab world in the year 2020, by UNESCO.

Riyadh Art and Royal Commission are hosting Noor Riyadh for Riyadh City. The other partners for the event are General Entertainment Authority, Riyadh Municipality, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, King Abdullah Financial District, King Fahad National Library, Riyadh Front, Kingdom Tower, Digital City, and JAX District.

These locations will host Noor Riyadh: AlNakheel Sports Park, Digital City, Diplomatic Quarter General Authority, JAX District, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Kingdom Tower, King Fahad National Library, Masmak Fort, Riyadh Front, At-Turaif World Heritage Site, Wadi Hanifah Dam Park and Wadi Namar Park.