Diriyah Art Futures to Host Panel and Exhibition in Venice on Saudi Arabia’s Cultural and Architectural Vision

Photography: Courtesy of SPA

Venice, May 1, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the Middle East and North Africa region’s first dedicated hub for New Media and Digital Arts, will host a high-level panel discussion titled “A New Era for Art in Saudi Arabia: Building Future Institutions and Pioneering Architectures” at the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice on May 7, 2025.

The event, held in collaboration with leading Italian architecture firm Schiattarella Associati, will take place on the sidelines of the opening of the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture. It aims to explore the role of contemporary architectural design and digital innovation in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s cultural institutions while preserving the Kingdom’s rich artistic and architectural heritage.

The panel will feature Mona Khazindar, Advisor to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture; Dr. Haytham Nawar, Director of Diriyah Art Futures; and Andrea and Amadeo Schiattarella, principal architects at Schiattarella Associati. The session will be moderated by renowned architect and art critic James Steele.

The discussion will center on the architectural and conceptual framework of Diriyah Art Futures, illustrating how the institution merges tradition with modernity to position itself as a technologically advanced cultural landmark. DAF is designed to integrate seamlessly into the historic escarpment of Diriyah while presenting bold and contemporary design elements, embodying the dual mandate of innovation and heritage preservation.

The event is part of the “Building of the Future” initiative, which highlights global architectural projects that are redefining contemporary design practices. It will bring together leading architects, cultural figures, artists, and international media to examine Saudi Arabia’s expanding influence in the global creative and architectural landscape.

In parallel, the Querini Stampalia Foundation will open an exhibition curated by Schiattarella Associati, offering visitors an immersive experience into the design vision behind DAF. The exhibition will feature architectural models, sketches, photographs, videos, drawings, and physical objects that narrate the story of DAF’s development—from conceptual inception to its future realization.

Running from May 7 to June 15, 2025, the exhibition also reflects DAF’s role within the Saudi Museums Commission and its contribution to transforming Riyadh into a global center for artistic innovation, cultural exchange, and creative exploration under the broader framework of Saudi Vision 2030.