Traveling show reimagines Saudi museums

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we spotlight the second phase of the exhibition “Our Saudi Story: A Window into Museums” in Riyadh, featuring three pioneering female Saudi artists. ATHR Gallery is preparing to showcase their work at Art Basel, while major new investments and financing for the cultural sector were announced during the inaugural Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: "Our Saudi Story: A Window into Museums"

Guests view a painting by Tagreed Bagshi in “Our Saudi Story: A Window into Museums.” (Courtesy of Saudi Museums Commission)

The Saudi Museums Commission has launched the second phase of the traveling interactive exhibition “Our Saudi Story: A Window into Museums,” coinciding with the 95th National Day celebrations. Free and open to the public, the exhibition presents collections from regional museums through modern technologies that combine digital media, kinetic design and sound effects. Eleven artifacts are also digitally represented in an interactive environment, bridging history and heritage with innovation.

The exhibition began its journey in Buraidah, the capital and largest city of Al-Qassim Province in north-central Saudi Arabia. After Riyadh, it will continue to Najran and Jeddah, with each stop tailored to reflect the unique culture, history and scope of the collections in that location.

Aimed at fostering a connection between the past, present and future, the exhibition reimagines the role of museums, especially for young Saudis amid the kingdom’s ongoing transformation. According to the Museums Commission, it is part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of national heritage through innovative display methods designed to engage and inspire new generations.

Date: until Nov. 11

Location: Masmak Palace Museum, Riyadh, Al-Deera District

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Spago by Wolfgang Puck

The wok-fried angry lobster at Spago by Wolfgang Puck. (Courtesy of Spago by Wolfgang Puck)

Hailing from California, famed Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck operates a restaurant in Riyadh that has become one of the most popular upscale eateries in the city. While maintaining a focus on Californian cuisine, the eatery has developed unique dishes for the local market, including camel meat and Asian dishes such as the popular wok-fried angry lobster, prepared with tobanjan chilli and green onion. Located in Riyadh, Puck’s restaurant is widely regarded as  one of the top American culinary experiences in town.

Location: Via Riyadh, Riyadh

Find more information here

3. Riyadh diary

Lulua Alyahya. Untitled. 2025. (Courtesy of ATHR)

• ATHR Gallery to Present a Female Trio of Young Saudi Artists at Art Basel Paris 

During the upcoming Art Basel Paris fair, ATHR Gallery, Saudi Arabia’s leading contemporary art gallery, will present a showcase featuring three female artists — Sarah Abu Abdallah, Hayfa Algwaiz and Lulua Alyahya — at Booth H14. The works on view highlight a new wave of Saudi artists whose practices explore the language of composition, examining how images, spaces and textures reflect the multifaceted experiences of Saudi women today. The presentation aims to give Parisian and international audiences a rare glimpse into the evolving landscape of Saudi contemporary art.

Date: Oct. 24-26

Location: Art Basel Paris, Grand Palais Ephemere, Booth H14, Paris

Find more information here.

• Saudi artists participate in inaugural Bukhara Biennial

Titled “Recipes for Broken Hearts,” Uzbekistan’s ancient city of Bukhara has staged its first-ever art biennial throughout its historic center. On view are works by two prominent Saudi artists — Ahmad Angawi and Dana Awartani — created in collaboration with local Uzbek artists and artisans, exploring cultural memory, heritage preservation and the intersection of craftsmanship and art.

Date: Through Nov. 20 

Location: Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Find more information here.

• Inaugural Cultural Investment Conference draws over 100 participants

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister, the Ministry of Culture brought together over 100 local and international speakers, including policymakers and leaders from cultural and investment institutions worldwide.

The conference — held from Sept. 29-30  — marked a pivotal step in empowering the kingdom’s creative sector, positioning it as a dynamic economic engine to reinforce the nation’s identity and cultural presence globally, while highlighting Riyadh’s role as an international hub for culture and the creative economy.

Location: King Fahd Cultural Center, Riyadh

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: "The Prize - The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power"

This timeless read by Daniel Yergin, which earned the author a Pulitzer Prize, examines the decadeslong struggle for wealth and power surrounding oil and its continuing influence on the economic and political dynamics of modern nations. First published 30 years ago, it remains as relevant and insightful as ever, particularly in highlighting the Middle East’s enduring significance to the global economy.

5. View from Riyadh

A building at At-Turaif, Diriyah, Riyadh. (Courtesy of Osama Yahiya Al-Jabarti)

Once the birthplace of the Saudi state and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the heritage district of Diriyah showcases traditional Najdi architecture, characterized by the use of mud-brick and palm trunks, some dating back to the 18th century, including palaces and forts.

6. By the numbers

During the inaugural Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh the Ministry of Culture announced a series of groundbreaking financial tools and investments designed to grow the cultural and creative economy in Saudi Arabia. These include the following:

• Cultural Assets Group Fund: SAR 850 million ($227 million) investment vehicle supporting visual arts, cultural retail and emerging technologies.
• Fashion Fund with Merak Capital: SAR 300 million ($80 million) fund, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, empowering local brands and strengthening supply chains.
• Co-Lending Product: SAR 1 billion ($267 million) financing tool developed with private financial institutions, expanding access to capital for cultural enterprises.