Noor Riyadh 2024: Over 60 Local and International Artists to Illuminate the City in the World’s Largest Light Art Festival
Ahmed Bin Abdulqader
Under the umbrella of Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Art, Noor Riyadh returns for its fourth edition, bringing together over 60 artists representing 18 nationalities to illuminate the Saudi capital under the theme “Light Years Apart”. This year’s festival features a broad spectrum of creators, including visual artists, industrial designers, sculptors, musicians, and photographers, transforming Riyadh into a canvas of light and creativity. Artworks will be displayed across three key locations: the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District. As the world’s largest light art festival, Noor Riyadh continues to redefine how art interacts with urban spaces.
This year’s theme, “Light Years Apart”, explores the profound connection between Althara (the earth) and Althuraya (the sky), examining humanity’s journey from its present realities to the pursuit of its greatest aspirations. In keeping with this vision, the festival will unveil new site-specific commissions by artists including Abdul Rahman Taha, Athar Alharbi, Jukan Tatesi, Takeshi Yasura, Kimchi and Chips, Lachlan Turczan, Maryam Tariq, Nasser Al Turki, and Takayuki Mori.
The 2024 edition features 18 Saudi artists and 43 international artists, with representation from Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Curators Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag and Dr. Alfredo Cramerotti invite visitors to embark on a journey across Riyadh. The King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Riyadh’s foremost cultural landmark, hosts exhibitions and museums that celebrate the Kingdom’s rich heritage, blending the past and present. With green corridors, flowing streams, and winding trails, Wadi Hanifah transports visitors to the city’s natural landmark, offering an open-air setting to engage with artworks amidst serene surroundings. Known for its creativity, art galleries, and cultural projects, the JAX District serves as a hub for contemporary arts, offering visitors a wide range of modern artistic expressions. In addition to the captivating light art displays, the festival will offer workshops, artistic dialogue sessions, and a variety of community engagement programs.
Nouf Almoneef, Festival Director of Noor Riyadh, emphasized the festival’s impact: “Riyadh Art and Noor Riyadh celebrate the artistic spirit that thrives within our city and beyond. From families to emerging artists and students, Noor Riyadh offers a platform for artistic exchange and discovery, uniting residents and visitors through the magic of light art. By enhancing Riyadh’s livability through festivals, community activities, and permanent artworks, the city has transformed into a vibrant cultural destination.”
This year’s Noor Riyadh promises to captivate audiences from November 28 to December 14, 2024, with its blend of artistic ingenuity, community participation, and urban transformation.
Across its editions, Noor Riyadh has transformed the city into a radiant cultural landmark, creating unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors alike. With over 388 artworks created by 300+ artists from around the globe, the festival has hosted more than 6,000 activities that engage and inspire. Attracting an audience of over 6 million visitors, Noor Riyadh has achieved an extraordinary 14 Guinness World Records, cementing its reputation as the largest and most impactful light art festival in the world.
For more details, visit noorriyadh.sa or follow the festival on Instagram at instagram.com/noorriyadhfestival.
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For more information regarding Riyadh Art and Noor Riyadh contact:
Riyadh Art Media Center: info@riyadhart.sa
-Notes to editors-
About Noor Riyadh
Noor Riyadh is a citywide annual festival of light and art which launched in March 2021. Noor Riyadh includes a festival and world-class exhibition, along with a public program of community activities, featuring educational workshops, talks and performances. Noor Riyadh is the largest light art festival in the world.
Noor Riyadh combines the highest quality light artworks from leading international and Saudi artists, across the largest city footprint of any light art festival worldwide. Staged under Riyadh Art, the festival aims to nurture local talent and inspire youth to drive Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
Website: http://noorriyadh.sa
Instagram: @noorriyadhfestival
Twitter: @NoorRiyadhFest
Facebook: @NoorRiyadhFestival
Noor Riyadh is presented by Riyadh Art and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
About Riyadh Art
Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, is on a 10-year mission to become one of the world’s most livable and competitive cities, a global center which is open for business and that welcomes the world. With a young and rapidly growing population of 7+ million residents, Riyadh is transforming into a vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis.
Art and culture reflect the spirit of a city. That’s why the Riyadh Art project has been developed to turn the whole capital into a creative canvas – a gallery without walls – to enrich lives, ignite creative expression and kindle the creative economy. Riyadh Art is a demonstration of the open, accessible and creative transformation of the capital, where the exchange of ideas through creative expression develops a deeper sense of mutual understanding and respect.
The Riyadh Art project will have a positive impact on people, bringing everyday moments of joy to residents and visitors alike, while instilling a greater sense of civic pride and creating a more beautiful city for everyone to enjoy. It will also spark the development of the new creative economy and have a positive effect on attracting new businesses to invest in the city.
Website: www.riyadhart.sa
Instagram: @riyadhartofficial
X: @Riyadh_Arts
Facebook: @RiyadhArtOfficial
