Diriyah Art Futures Opens Applications for Second Cycle of Emerging New Media Artists Program

Diriyah, April 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the Middle East and North Africa region’s first dedicated New Media Arts hub, has announced a call for applications for the second cycle of its Emerging New Media Artists Program, set to commence in October 2025.

Developed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the one-year program offers participants access to cutting-edge professional equipment, production budgets, and personalized mentorship from leading international artists specializing in digital and new media arts.

According to the official release, the program begins with three months of thematic and conceptual exploration, featuring seminars, lectures, screenings, and workshops led by prominent artists and theorists addressing the most critical topics in contemporary new media practice. Participants will then move into the production phase, during which they will create original artworks under the guidance of world-renowned mentors, utilizing DAF’s advanced facilities, including capabilities in immersive reality, machine learning, coding, sensing technologies, and spatial audio-visual environments.

At the conclusion of the program, the produced works will be exhibited at DAF in a curated and juried exhibition, offering emerging talents the opportunity to present their innovations to a wide audience.

Applicants must be 35 years of age or younger, at the graduate or postgraduate completion stage, and have demonstrated experience in developing new media and digital art. Interested candidates can find full details, including eligibility criteria and the application process, through Diriyah Art Futures' official channels.

The inaugural cycle of the program was launched in parallel with DAF’s opening at Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first cohort featured 12 emerging artists from 11 different countries, with strong representation from Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region, reinforcing the center’s vision of fostering a vibrant community of digital artists at the heart of the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

DAF continues to position itself as a leading platform for innovation, critical thinking, and artistic excellence in the fast-evolving fields of new media and digital art, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader cultural transformation goals under Vision 2030.