Must Do This Summer: Experience thought-provoking talks, immersive masterclasses and more at Diriyah Art Futures

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the MENA region’s first hub dedicated to New Media Arts, has announced an exciting programme of activities running throughout June and July. Visitors can immerse themselves in the dynamic world of New Media Art and deepen their understanding through a series of interactive talks, hands-on workshops, and masterclasses led by local, regional and international artists.

These sessions are presented as part of DAF’s current exhibition, Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World, which explores the evolution of New Media practices across the region. Featuring more than 70 artworks by over 40 artists, Maknana sheds light on how Arab artists have navigated and reimagined technology through four key curatorial themes: Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch. Please see the key programme details below.

From creating immersive narratives to exploring 3D scanning technologies, and from motion design to pixel art, the programme caters to artists, enthusiasts, and kids alike. Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding of New Media Art or simply try something new, DAF’s programme offers something for everyone.

June

Thursday 19 June

Talk: Experimental Concepts in Educational Practices of Media Arts

06:00 PM – 07:00 PM | Language: Arabic

Join artist and academic Shady Elnoshokaty for an interactive talk exploring the experimental strategies and pedagogical approaches that have shaped the teaching of digital and media arts in Egypt and the wider Arab region since the early 2000s. Drawing on his own experience, Elnoshokaty reflects on the evolving role of education in supporting creative engagement with new technologies.

Friday 20 June to Saturday 21 June

Masterclass: Ready-Made Dreams – Immersive Narratives

05:00 PM – 21:30 PM | Language: Arabic

This two-day experimental masterclass, led by Shady Elnoshokaty, invites participants to explore the creative potential of archival and found visual materials. Attendees will learn how to layer and transform content into immersive narratives through hands-on exercises using video, photography, text, and animation. All materials are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Includes refreshments. Exhibition entry not included in the ticket.

July

Thursday 3 July

Talk and Screening: Cartographies of a Future

06:00 PM – 07:00 PM | Language: English

Led by ScanLAB Projects, this talk delves into how digital tools are reshaping our understanding of photography and perception itself. ScanLAB Projects use 3D scanning to transcend the boundaries of traditional photography, offering new ways of capturing, preserving and critically reflecting on the world around us. The short films Post-Lenticular Landscapes (12 mins) and Replica-real-Replica (23 mins) will be screened following the talk.

Friday 4 July to Saturday 5 July

Masterclass: Memory in Three Dimensions

04:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Language: English

This masterclass, led by Matt Shaw of ScanLAB Projects, explores the fascinating intersection of cutting-edge 3D scanning technology and the intricate workings of human memory. The two-day, hands-on session will challenge you to rethink the nature of personal archives in the digital age. Through a blend of practical demonstrations and interactive exercises, exploring 3D scanning technologies and creating 3D scans, participants will delve into the potential and pitfalls of creating perfect digital replicas of our lives.

Saturday 5 July

Workshop: Motion Design for Film and Media

05:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Language: Arabic

Explore the art and impact of motion design and computer graphics in this workshop by artist Ali Alaifi. Participants will dive into the history of these formats, analyse key examples, and finally, create their own title design project. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how motion design influences media and the skills to apply it creatively.

Saturday 12 July

Book symposium: Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World

02:30 PM – 8:00 PM| Language: Arabic & English with live interpretation

This symposium marks the launch of Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World, a landmark volume edited by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, which critically rethinks the genealogies of media art across the Arab region. The book explores how media art has developed across the Arab region, looking beyond traditional art histories to highlight local stories, creative experiments, and social and political influences from early image-making to today’s digital technologies.

Thursday 17 July

Talk: Traces of Change: Processing Reality Through Art

06:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Language: Arabic

In this artist talk, Raed Ibrahim reflects on his artistic journey through shifting landscapes of social and political transformation. Drawing from personal experiences and regional contexts, he explores how narratives of conflict, displacement, memory, and collective environments shape artistic expression. Raed shares key projects that span painting, public art, and installation, revealing how materials, symbols, and conceptual approaches become tools for processing complex realities. The talk presents a view of the artist not merely as a commentator, but as someone who engages with change through observation, process, and form. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

Wednesday 18 July

Workshop: Pixel by Pixel: Introduction to Pixel Art

05:00 PM – 09:00 PM | Language: English

Join Saudi artist Khaled Makhshoush for an engaging introduction to the world of pixel art. This workshop will explore the history and evolution of pixel art, from its roots in early video games to its place in contemporary digital art. Participants will learn key techniques and experiment with creating their own pixel artwork in a guided hands-on session.

Wednesday 18 July

Kids Workshop: Art Bot (Age Group: 8–12 years old)

05:00 PM – 08:00 PM | Language: English

A fun, hands-on workshop by Lamba where kids will learn to build drawing robots. Using simple motors, markers, and everyday materials, children will build kinetic machines that move, spin, and scribble, creating vibrant, one-of-a-kind artworks. Blending play with invention, the workshop fosters creativity, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of how design and motion work together.

Thursday 19 July

Masterclass: Material as a Narrative Tool

05:00 PM – 09:00 PM | Language: Arabic

In this masterclass artist Raed Ibrahim invites participants to explore how artists respond to social, historical, and personal transformations through materiality and conceptual storytelling and how materials carry meaning and shape the narrative of an artwork. By the end of the masterclass, participants will experiment with traditional and unconventional materials through hands-on exercises and personal reflection, and will create a conceptual artwork.

Thursday 19 July

Kids Workshop: Sound Sculptors (Age Group: 13–16 years old)

12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Language: English

A collaborative workshop designed and run by Lamba, where teenagers will transform everyday materials into a playable sound sculpture using Makey Makey technology. By designing tactile surfaces that respond to touch with sound, participants will explore how physical interaction can drive creative expression. This session invites young makers to think like artists, inventors, and musicians, working together to create a multisensory experience that is as surprising as it is fun.

For more information on the exhibition and upcoming public programming, please visit www.daf.moc.gov.sa

Find DAF on social media: Twitter: @DAFmoc | Instagram: @DAFmoc | Website: https://daf.moc.gov.sa/en/