Latest news with #RoyalCommissionforAlUla
Mid East Info
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
AlUla Artist Residency Programme – Design Edition - Middle East Business News and Information
The second edition of Arts AlUla Design Residency is underway. This three-month programme welcomes five designers to the ancient oasis city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia for a period of in-depth research, culminating in the development and production of furniture prototypes. The selected participants — Altin Studio, Aseel Alamoudi, Ori Orisun Merhav, Paul Ledron, and Studio ThusThat — will immerse themselves in AlUla's landscapes and cultural fabric for three months of research and conceptual work before developing their prototypes which will then be exhibited later in the year and showcased at the AlUla Arts Festival 2026 from January 15th. The residency focuses on the creation of urban installations and furniture for and from AlUla. Inspired by the landscape, materiality, crafts, heritage, and culture of the region, the programme emphasises the use of local resources and traditional know-how. As with the first edition of the residency, the programme offers a platform for collaboration between international designers, local artisans, and regional experts, inviting them to collectively reflect on how design can respond to contemporary needs while honoring the authenticity and traditions of AlUla. An international jury of renowned experts selected the designers for this edition, which focuses on site-specific design rooted in local materiality, heritage, and contemporary relevance. Humberto Campana, Co-founder, Campana Brothers, President of the jury Ali Alghazzawi, Head of AlUla Artist Residency Programme, Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Tulga Beyerle, Director, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg Tarini Jindal Handa, Managing Director, JSW Realty | Founder, æquō | Co-Founder, Hampi Art Labs Arnaud Morand, Head of Art and Creative Industries, AFALULA. Independent Curator Emmanuel Tibloux, Director, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD), Paris For this second edition of the residency, Dominique Petit-Frère, cultural practitioner and design strategist and co-founder of Limbo Accra, an architecture and research studio based in Ghana, has been invited as Lead Curator. Her theme, Designing Within, explores how design can emerge from an intimate connection to landscape. She accompanies the designers throughout their creative journey, fostering thoughtful engagement with the context of AlUla. Hamad Alhomiedan, Art and Creative Industries Director at the Royal Commission for AlUla, commented, The theme Designing Within underscores the delicate balance of the ambition and progress of the master planners and place-makers of AlUla with the overarching goal to protect and celebrate the culture, traditions and environment of a city so steeped in rich heritage. Since welcoming the first artists in residence to AlUla in 2021, we've witnessed many meaningful collaborations and seen first-hand the inspiration of the artists and designers by the landscapes, culture, materials and stories of AlUla, resulting in works that have been shown in galleries across Europe. Catherine Pégard, Executive Director for Cultural Development and Corporate Communications, AFALULA, said, This programme has rapidly become a cornerstone of Saudi-French cultural cooperation and a laboratory for contemporary creation. This initiative connects local and international artists with the impressive array of experts currently working in AlUla. The Design Residency programme 2025 also coincides with the Year of Handicrafts as designated by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture. To this end, a focus of the programme is the opportunity for the designers to embrace a grassroots artisan crafts intrinsic to AlUla's identity, merging traditional craftsmanship in disciplines such as weaving, metal, leather and stone work with contemporary design practices. The works created during the residency will be presented as part of a dedicated design stream during the AlUla Arts Festival in January 2026, along other design-led initiatives driven by Arts AlUla – part of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Design Space AlUla. The designers will also take part and lead a series of public programmes, sharing insights into their creative processes and how their time in AlUla has shaped their work, offering audiences a rare opportunity to engage directly with the future of design inspired by place. The Residency is developed in collaboration with the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA), and with the curatorial support of Emily Marant, Senior Design Advisor to AFALULA, the residency is hosted at Mabiti, a lively hub for artists set in shade of a palm grove in the heart of AlUla.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
AlUla's summer fruit market extended until Saturday
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla on Monday announced the extension of the summer fruit market, held as part of the 'Khairat AlUla' initiative, until next Saturday, Aug. 3. The extension aims to provide an additional opportunity for farmers and local families to display and sell their products, driven by high demand during the season, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The season is held at the Al-Manshiyah Farmers Market, where farmers display a large variety of fruits, including mangoes, grapes, and figs. The summer fruit season is one of the most prominent agricultural production seasons in AlUla, as its farms produce approximately 4,9000 tonnes of fruits annually through about 216,000 trees. The season contributes to empowering farmers, opening marketing outlets for their products, in addition to developing sales markets and linking them to visitors, which enhances the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the governorate and consolidates its connection to the cultural and economic identity of AlUla.
Leaders
3 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
Summer Fruits Season in AlUla Extended Until Saturday, August 2
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has extended the Summer Fruits Season, part of the 'Khayrat AlUla' initiative, through Saturday, August 2. This extension offers more opportunities for local farmers and producers to display and sell their goods, supporting the growing demand for regional products and reinforcing the visibility of AlUla's agricultural offerings. Hosted at the Al Manshiyah Farmers' Market, the season features a wide variety of local fruits—most notably mangoes, grapes, and figs—presented by participating farmers from across AlUla. Families involved in traditional cottage industries also contribute, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the region's agricultural heritage and its role in the local economy. The Summer Fruits Season is a flagship event in AlUla's agricultural calendar. Local farms contribute over 4,900 tons of fruit annually, harvested from approximately 216,000 trees. This event is part of the broader 'Khayrat AlUla' series, which also highlights dates, citrus fruits, pomegranates, grapes, and honey. It reflects RCU's commitment to advancing food security and empowering agricultural communities, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Related Topics: Summer Fruits Season to Celebrate AlUla's Agricultural Products Year-end Review: Saudi Arabia Turns Crops Harvest into Marvelous Festivals in 2024 Explore Fine Arts at Coffee Harvest 2024 in Al-Dayer Early Date Harvest Underway in Madinah Region Short link : Post Views: 28
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-07-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
AlUla Launches Summer Fruits Season as Part of 'Khayrat AlUla' Initiative
The Summer Fruits Season started in AlUla on Tuesday as part of the 'Khayrat AlUla' initiative implemented by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). The initiative aims to showcase the region's agricultural diversity and reinforce its connection to the cultural and economic identity of the area. The season is taking place at Al Manshiyah Farmers' Market from July 22 to 28, where local farmers are presenting a variety of fruits for which AlUla is known, including mangoes, grapes, and figs. The event also features participation from local productive families in a festive atmosphere that highlights the authenticity and economic importance of agricultural heritage. The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla's most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees. The event is part of the broader Khayrat AlUla series, which includes seasons for dates, grapes, citrus fruits and honey. These efforts align with RCU's goals to strengthen food security and develop agricultural communities in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The season contributes to empowering farmers, expanding marketing channels for their produce, and developing sales outlets connected to visitors, fostering long-term sustainability for the region's agricultural sector.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-07-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest
The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the launch of AlUla's harvest season, starting with the AlUla Summer Fruits Season. This seven-day event from July 22 to 28 at Al Manshiyah Farmers Market marks the beginning of several seasonal celebrations, including dates, citrus, peregrine, and honey seasons. According to SPA, during the Summer Fruits Season, farmers and local families will showcase diverse fruits, supporting comprehensive agricultural and economic development. The commission aims to drive economic growth through community initiatives during this peak harvest period for AlUla's over 5,000 farms, which boast more than 50,000 trees. AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. Celebrating centuries of agricultural history, AlUla's diverse and high-quality produce balances ancient traditions and sustainable agriculture. The Royal Commission for AlUla prioritizes agricultural development to boost economic opportunities, enhance competitiveness, create local jobs, and offer visitors a unique experience of the region's agricultural
