Open call for submissions for 7th Ithra Art Prize announced by KSA

Gulf Today

2 days ago

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced the open call for the 7th edition of the biennial Ithra Art Prize, an art grant supporting contemporary art across the Arab world. Submissions officially opened on July 24 and will be accepted till October 16, 2025. Founded in 2017, the prize is a valuable platform for artists from the region. With a grand award of USD 100,000, the winning artwork will find a permanent home in Ithra's forever art collection.
In a significant expansion from previous years, the prize, through an appointed jury, will bestow production grants to five finalists for showcasing their work in an exhibition at Ithra, in the spring of 2026. The exhibition is a new highlight of the prize, as it returns the award to its home in KSA's Eastern Province, contributing to the artists' evolving legacies and aiming to amplify the discourse on contemporary art in the region. The final winner will be selected during the course of the exhibition.
As part of its evolving approach, both new commissions and also recontextualised existing works, are eligible to apply. The Ithra Art Prize recognises artists whose practices are intellectually engaged, contextually grounded, and developed through sustained inquiry over time. Submitted works must also reflect artists' ongoing practice and research. The prize is open to individual artists and collectives aged 18 and older, should be of Arab heritage or be currently residing in one of the 22 Arab countries.
E Pluribus Unum by Nadia Kaabi-Linke.
Farah Abushullaih, Head of Ithra's Museum, said that 'the Ithra Art Prize supports artists who engage creatively and critically with conditions and ideas that speak to the diverse contexts of our region. The 7th Edition of the Ithra Art Prize marks a homecoming that expands the Prize's scope through an exhibition at Ithra, featuring multiple works in dialogue with one another.' The Ithra Art Prize is a premier platform for contemporary artists and celebrates a wide range of practices and perspectives. Past winners have exhibited at leading institutions within the Kingdom and internationally. They include Ayman Zedani (2018) for Mem, unveiled at Art Dubai; Daniah Al Saleh (2019), who won the second edition with Sawtam, an audiovisual installation based on Arabic phonemes, also unveiled at Art Dubai and exhibited later at the State Hermitage Museum, Russia; and Fahad bin Naif (2020), awarded for Rakhm, an installation exploring themes of environmental preservation and urban ecosystems.
In 2021, Nadia Kaabi-Linke won with E Pluribus Unum, presented at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. E Pluribus Unum explored the impact of the global pandemic. The following year, Adel Abidin (2023), an Iraqi-Finnish artist, received the fifth edition prize for his large-scale installation ON. Most recently, in 2024, Obaid Alsafi was the sixth edition winner for his evocative installation Palms in Eternal Embrace, which debuted at the AlUla Arts Festival. Obaid's piece drew inspiration from Saudi Arabia's rich history and landscapes, referencing the 5,000-year-old sandstone pillars found in the artist's birthplace, the historical town of Qaryat Al Faw, and the ancient Rajajil Columns found in Al Jawf region, north of Saudi Arabia. Not only an architectural marvel, the Rajajil Columns were used to observe the stars and seasonal changes, and has recently provided evidence of the effects of climate change in the Arabian Peninsula.
With its 7th edition, the Ithra Art Prize continues its founding mission of supporting artistic excellence, connecting Arab creatives to global audiences, and nurturing a thriving cultural ecosystem across the region and beyond. The Ithra Art Prize is one of the most significant awards dedicated to contemporary artists from or based in the 22 Arab countries. The biannual prize initially focused on Saudi and Saudi-based artists, and later expanded its fourth edition to include practices from across the wider Arab region.
Farah Abushullaih, Head of Ithra's Museum.
Offered by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), the prize's mandate is to spark cultural curiosity, foster original thought and expression, and celebrate work that reflects intellectually engaged and contextually responsive approaches. The winning artist is awarded by an international jury with a USD 100,000 grant, and his or her work is acquired by the Ithra Collection, helping shape both their artistic legacy and furthering the evolving discourse of contemporary Arab art. With every edition, Ithra aims to contribute to the region's creative ecosystem by providing a platform for contemporary artists to project their talent and forge partnerships with leading regional institutions, including Art Dubai, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, and the AlUla Arts Festival.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) — meaning 'enrichment' in Arabic — was built as part of Saudi Aramco's vision to create an ambitious initiative for the public. Ithra is the Kingdom's leading cultural and creative destination for talent development and cross-cultural experiences. Since its inaugural in 2018, each of Ithra's programmes has served as windows to global experiences, celebrating human potential and empowering creativity. Ithra's operating pillars include culture, creativity, community, art, and knowledge. With the visionary platforms and key initiatives, the art and culture body offers workshops, performances, and events.
The leading cultural destination is located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. With a focus on enriching people's lives by offering impactful cultural and creative programmes and initiatives, since its opening Ithra has also become a distinguished architectural landmark that houses the Idea Lab, Library, Theater, Museum, Cinema, Great Hall, Energy Exhibit, Children's Museum and Knowledge Tower.