Latest news with #Ithra
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's Ithra launches open call for $100,000 art prize
DHAHRAN: Artists across the region are invited to apply for the Ithra Art Prize, with $100,000 up for grabs and the chance to have their work displayed at one of the Middle East's leading cultural institutions. The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) announced the open call for the seventh edition, with the head of the museum calling it one of area's 'most generous and influential' art grants. Artists from across the Arab world can submit their proposals via the Ithra website, with a deadline of Oct. 16. This edition will also, for the first time, recognize five finalists with production grants. Their work, along with the winning commission, will be exhibited at Ithra's headquarters in spring 2026. Launched in 2017, the prize initially focused on Saudi and Saudi-based artists but was expanded in its fourth edition to include contemporary artists of Arab heritage across 22 countries. Farah Abushullaih, Ithra's head of museum, told Arab News it served as 'an open invitation to artists to speak in their own voice.' She said: 'We're looking for proposals that reflect depth, authenticity and a clear vision. What stands out is work that is intellectually grounded and emotionally resonant.' Both new commissions and re-contextualized existing works are accepted, provided they are closely linked to the artist's ongoing research and creative trajectory. Applicants must be aged 18 or older and of Arab heritage or residing in one of the 22 Arab countries. Both individual artists and collectives may apply. 'The prize is about expanding the region's cultural conversations through bold, original ideas. Ithra is committed to supporting them every step of the way, from conception to creation and beyond,' said Abushullaih. The Ithra Art Prize has played a pivotal role in advancing contemporary art from the region since its inception. Past winners have displayed their works at leading cultural events including Art Dubai, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and the AlUla Arts Festival. Abushullaih said: 'Ithra continually evolves its programs to reflect the changing artistic landscape and needs of the Kingdom and the region. In the case of the Ithra Art Prize, this goes beyond funding; we offer a platform for dialogue, critical thinking and meaningful cultural exchange.' She added sustaining this impact was an ongoing commitment. 'It requires long-term investment in artists' development, authentic community engagement and creating opportunities for works to resonate, both locally and globally. We want Ithra to be a meeting place for cultures to interact, share, and grow,' she said. Looking ahead, Ithra is already in discussions to present the winner's work beyond Dhahran. 'Partnerships and collaborations have always been central to how we develop our programs and extend the reach of the artists we support,' said Abushullaih. 'We are in dialogue with institutions based in Saudi Arabia and internationally to explore ways for the seventh edition of the prize to be seen by a wider audience and experienced in new contexts beyond Ithra.'
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Ithra announces open call for 7th Ithra Art Prize with expanded exhibition format
Saudi Gazette report DHAHRAN — The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced the open call for the 7th edition of the Ithra Art Prize, one of the world's most generous grants for contemporary artists from the Arab world. With a top award of $100,000 and a new format including five additional finalists, the prize offers an unparalleled platform for regional creatives. Submissions are now open and will be accepted until October 16, 2025. For the first time in the prize's history, five finalists will receive production grants to showcase their works alongside the winner in a collective exhibition at Ithra in spring 2026. The final winner will be selected during the exhibition, which marks a return of the prize's centerpiece event to Ithra's home in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. Launched in 2017, the Ithra Art Prize is open to individual artists and collectives aged 18 and above who are either of Arab heritage or reside in one of the 22 Arab prize welcomes both new commissions and recontextualized existing works that reflect sustained inquiry, intellectual engagement, and a strong regional context.'The Ithra Art Prize supports artists who engage creatively and critically with conditions and ideas that speak to the diverse contexts of our region,' said Farah Abushullaih, Head of Ithra's Museum.'The 7th edition marks a homecoming that expands the prize's scope through an exhibition at Ithra featuring multiple works in dialogue with one another.'Since its inception, the Ithra Art Prize has launched the careers of prominent artists across the Arab winners include Ayman Zedani, Daniah Al Saleh, Fahad bin Naif, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Adel Abidin, and Obaid works have been featured at Art Dubai, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, the State Hermitage Museum in Russia, and the AlUla Arts Prize continues to foster dialogue, innovation, and cultural production across the Arab region, with a focus on bridging local voices with global audiences.
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
Saudi youth engineer their way to STEM Racing triumph
DHAHRAN: Cheers and confetti filled the stage at Ithra's theater in Dhahran on Wednesday night as four teams of Saudi students were crowned national champions in the 2025 STEM Racing competition. All four teams earned the honor of representing the Kingdom at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, supported by Formula 1, in Singapore from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2. The fourth edition of STEM Racing Saudi Arabia, held under the umbrella of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), brought together finalists from six cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, and Abha. From regional qualifiers to wind tunnel testing, digital simulations, enterprise planning, and brand building, students spent months building mini Formula 1-style race cars and pitching their ideas in front of judges and mentors. First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran, a returning competitor who missed out on a qualifying spot the previous year. Second place went to Giddam from Riyadh, followed by Sadeem from Dhahran in third, and YLA Accelerate from Jeddah in fourth. Team Rimah member Fares Al-Garaawi said the team's experience has been all about growth. 'This wasn't my first year. I competed last year, too, but we didn't qualify. I took that lesson and came back stronger,' he said. Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam, who also won the Best Pit Display award, said the competition helped her to rebuild after setbacks. 'Last year, I didn't win. But I came back with a clear goal. I wanted to win — not just make memories or enjoy the events. And this time, I did both,' she said. More than 1,000 students took part in this year's edition, with finalists selected through a series of rigorous regional qualifiers. The program blends engineering and enterprise with creative branding, public speaking, digital marketing, and sustainability. Alongside the four winners, 14 special awards were made to recognize outstanding achievements in areas such as speed, design, sustainability, branding, and communication. Using advanced tools such as CAD modeling, 3D printing, and wind tunnel simulations, each team was tasked with building a high-performance miniature race car powered by compressed carbon dioxide, and refined for aerodynamics, branding, and data precision. Held under the theme 'Engineering the Future,' the final ceremony celebrated not only winners, but also resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Students shared stories of failure turned into learning, and learning turned into leadership. The top four teams will now represent Saudi Arabia in Singapore at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where students from over 30 countries will compete. Past Saudi teams have gained global attention, and expectations are high for this year's delegation. The initiative is part of Ithra's broader mission to empower young Saudis through experiential learning that aligns with Vision 2030. By combining technical training with soft skills and national representation, STEM Racing is turning passion into purpose. As the lights dimmed on the ceremony, students stood smiling with their medals, trophies, and mentors. The cars may be small, but their dreams are running full speed ahead.
L'Orient-Le Jour
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanon, UAE, KSA, Jordan... Our selection of cultural events to attend this weekend
When every weekend blurs into a never-ending scroll of flyers, exhibitions, and underground gigs, having too many options can feel a lot like having none. That's where we come in. Starting today, L'Orient Today is teaming up with The MYM Agenda to guide you through the fray. Every Thursday, we'll handpick the cultural happenings across the Middle East that are actually worth your time, whether it's a Beirut book launch, a rooftop concert in Amman, or an experimental film screening in Tunis. Consider this your weekly shortcut to what matters in the region's buzzing cultural scene. Starting Thursday, the city of Ehden (in Zgharta) kicks off its annual "Ehdeniyat International Festival," giving everyone a chance to run away from the sweltering Beirut heat and take refuge in North Lebanon's evergreen mountains. Famed pianist Guy Manoukian will be there to christen weeks of performances by local and international artists like Abeer Nehme and our moms' favorite, Kadim al-Sahir. You have until August to catch Caracalla's rendition of 'One Thousand and One Nights,' a story as iconic as the dance crew on stage. Known for their ruthless attention to detail and commitment to perfection, their dancing promises to transport you through each tale's endless twists and turns. Catch them at Theatre Caracalla, Horsh Tabet. For tickets and details, click here. This weekend in Al Quoz, Dubai, Ayyam Gallery's multimedia exhibition "Wavering Hope" continues to explore the different facets of Syrians' collective trauma. How do 14 years of civil war and decades of cruel rulers impact a people? And in the aftermath of conflict, is there space for hope? The 12 artists on display try to answer these questions and make space for optimism, no matter how fragile. For details, click here. In the same neighborhood, artist Nazgol Ansarinia is bringing you the streets of Tehran with her exhibition "Instruments of Viewing and Obscurity" at Green Art Gallery. Ansarinia zooms in on Iran's urban sprawl and Brutalist architecture, turning them into points of departure through which to question state and social control, in a world where the house is an extension of the body and the window that of the eye. This month, Ithra, known as the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, is hosting its annual July festival, offering a program packed with something for every age and interest. When it's too hot to do anything else, skip the beach and catch the children's activities this week, or pick up a chessboard, paintbrush, or calligraphy pen to create your own fun. Check the full program here. If Ithra's too much of a drive, Al-Ula in Medina Province is offering an equally immersive experience of exhibitions, shows and activities sprinkled around the city, so you never run out of things to do. And if somehow nothing entices you, strolling through the larger-than-life naturally formed sculptures in the desert landscape would be enough to keep you occupied. Check the full program here. This weekend, painter Laila Shaw's "Voices from Gaza" continues to take center stage as part of the artist's reflections on her homeland's violent destruction. Shaw invites us to walk along the walls of Gaza, through layers of graffiti, political slogans and symbols of resistance, building a landscape of resistance as emotional as it is visual. What once represented the cornerstones of where she lived are now being used as calls against erasure and exile. The exhibition is on display at the Contemporary Art Platform, Shuwaikh Industrial, Kuwait. For details, click here. In its first weekend at Orfali Art Center in Amman, Jordan, painters Ashtar Nasralla and Hiba al-Lami explore people's connections with each other and nature, and how the two are often interchangeable. Though the paintings are faceless, they still lure you in to feel the bond of the figures standing behind the blue and green trees; a feeling both experimental and human. Cairo's landmark Mashrabia Gallery is welcoming back artists, new and old, who have shaped its journey and turned it into a hub for local contemporary art. Their exhibition is not a retrospective but rather a new beginning in a genre that is always evolving.
Daily Tribune
17-07-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Ithra tracks signal shift in Youth Policy
TDT | Manama A quiet revolution is taking shape in Bahrain's youth education scene - and it begins at age 15. The AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation has introduced a new age track in its flagship Ithra programme, targeting 15- to 16-year-olds with structured, skills-based learning designed to bridge adolescence and early adulthood. While the announcement may seem like another summer launch, the implications go much deeper - Bahrain is gradually rewriting how it prepares its young people for the future, one age group at a time. Shifting the model Titled 'Ithra Youth', the new segment is part of a broader progression model now embedded in MKF's summer programming. Starting with 'Ithra Buds' (ages 10–12), which develops essential life skills through playful learning, and continuing through 'Ithra Juniors' (ages 13–14), which introduces scientific foundations and hands-on activities, the new Youth track completes a pipeline that follows a child's developmental arc. With over 30 participants per season in each track, the curriculum is far from textbook-based. Field visits, practical workshops, creative arts, thematic challenges and sports are all part of the mix - each tailored to the cognitive and emotional needs of the specific age group. Designing the future This approach, rooted in experiential learning and continuous self-assessment, reflects a deeper institutional shift. Rather than treat youth development as a broad-brush activity, MKF is building an infrastructure of age-relevant interventions. It signals a move from generalised summer engagement to a layered system where each year of adolescence is mapped to a meaningful learning experience. Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, affirmed this direction, noting that the Foundation's investment in young people reflects a belief in their capacity to lead, grow and shape society. 'This programme is about more than summer,' she said. 'It's about building readiness, resilience, and a sense of purpose - starting early and evolving with each year.' Nation-building through youth Since its establishment in 2011, MKF has focused on education as its primary social mandate. But the 2025 edition of the Ithra initiative marks a notable pivot - one that aligns more closely with national ambitions under Bahrain Vision 2030. By recognising that a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old need fundamentally different tools to succeed, the Foundation is challenging others in the sector to rethink how youth engagement is designed. What may appear at first glance as a seasonal programme launch is, in reality, part of a much more strategic reimagining of Bahrain's youth ecosystem.
