The sea carries with it a certain mystique because you never quite know what the tide may bring.

In Jeddah, for thousands of years, this perpetual ebb and flow has brought with it traders and pilgrims seeking safe harbour – their cultural influences moulding and shaping the city and its eclectic mix of residents.

This vibrant past is wonderfully represented on Jeddah’s city streets that double as an open-air art gallery. Restored sculptures by the likes of Henry Moore and Joan Miró can be seen at the Jeddah Sculpture Museum on the corniche, whilst Jeddah Art Promenade rolls out the red carpet for a new generation of art lovers.

Step off the streets and into the cooler, curated galleries, and you’ll find an even more lively art scene. One of the city’s most celebrated contemporary art spaces, ATHR Gallery values experimentation, and you’ll find a wide range of exhibitions and works by famous artists there, including Sara Abdu and Ahmed Mater. One of the founding Hayy residents, AKTHR also deserves attention as a space for new immersive, multi-sensory, and experiential art.  

The 17,000 sq metre creative complex, Hayy Jameel, is a dedicated home for the arts. It is a mixed-use arts complex that encourages cross-pollination among the broadest range of creative disciplines – art, music, film, and architecture – and is a very accessible, communal, and collaborative space.

New shows are also constantly rotating through the city’s other exhibition spaces, with MEDAD ART well-known in the creative community. The gallery prides itself on developing young artists through various workshops, events, and exhibitions.

Hafez Gallery is on a mission to promote the Saudi art scene for local talent and has been the catalyst for many emerging artists through its programmes, exhibitions, and art fairs. Meanwhile Rochan Gallery fills its spaces with an impressive fine arts collection, with prestigious Saudi photographers like Faisal Samra and Shadia Alem exhibiting work there. Additionally, NESMA ART GALLERY aims to be a platform for local artists, and its multitude of exhibition spaces allows it to showcase some of the best abstract artists and talented photographers simultaneously. Work by young female artists is also regularly on display.

In amongst the dedicated galleries, there are also a number of creative and community-centred spaces. A city stalwart, The Saudi Center for Fine Art has been around for 25 years and regularly holds a wide range of art courses for adults and children. Hayy Studios offers spaces and facilities for hands-on learning and residencies, whilst Hayy Learning extends courses from visual arts and cinema to culinary arts, fashion, and writing. And the ever-popular Adham Art Center is a contemporary gallery that brings artists, art enthusiasts, and buyers together.

Formal gallery spaces aside, you’ll also find plenty of grassroots activity. Art collectives, cafés, and concept stores are on the rise in the Kingdom, acting as neighbourhood incubators for local talent. At one of these, tahreek space, you’ll find an art workshop alongside the yoga studio and café, where budding artists can also rent space.

Wherever you turn, Jeddah is a city filled with incredible traditional and contemporary art, and thankfully every so often, when the wind blows right and tide shifts just so, a fresh new wave of talent breaks on its shores.

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