Balad Al-Fann 2025 Showcases Art Exhibits in Historic Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — The Ministry of Culture has launched the second edition of Balad Al-Fann 2025, a cultural initiative featuring a series of art exhibitions in Historic Jeddah. Running through June 15, the event offers an immersive artistic experience. It explores the relationship between place and memory. Moreover, it reintroduces local heritage through contemporary visual expression.
Art Returns to Historic Jeddah
The exhibitions take place in various locations across Al-Balad. As a result, visitors are invited to engage with Jeddah’s identity through modern interpretations of traditional narratives. Each venue has been designed to reflect the district’s character, blending history with interactive storytelling.
Honoring Local Artistic Legacies
Among the highlights is a commemorative exhibition for the late artist Hisham Benjabi titled “Memory of the City, the People, and the Nation.” Hosted at Nassif Boutique, the show presents his legacy through rare audio-visual archives and personal artifacts. Notably, many of these items are being displayed for the first time.
In addition, Nassif Boutique features a tribute to the late artist Safeya Binzagr. This exhibition focuses on the architectural and social memory of Jeddah. Through photographs, archives, and curated items, it showcases the city’s rich and layered cultural history.
Interactive Spaces and Contemporary Craft
The program includes a photography exhibition titled “Temporal Weave” at Bayt Bargoutha. It spotlights traditional crafts and visual memory. At Bayt Fatima Nuwara, visitors will also find an interactive showcase dedicated to Arabic calligraphy and handcrafted arts, presented using contemporary methods.
Furthermore, Bayt Shuaib hosts an artist residency exhibition under the name “Crafted Narratives.” This space brings together modern artists who interpret traditional skills through new creative lenses.
A New Narrative Through Space and Memory
Each exhibition is curated to allow multi-path exploration. Therefore, the layout provides every visitor with a unique and personalized experience. Through installations, archives, and contemporary photography, the shows create a dialogue between past and present.
This year’s theme, “Tales in the Memory of Place,” emphasizes Jeddah’s oral storytelling tradition. In essence, it reflects the neighborhood’s cultural identity as shaped by everyday stories passed down through generations.
Cultural Revival in Line With Vision 2030
Balad Al-Fann is part of the Ministry of Culture’s broader strategy to revive Historic Jeddah as a hub for cultural production. The initiative supports community engagement with local heritage. It also helps grow the cultural economy by backing creative talent.
These efforts align with Vision 2030. Consequently, they aim to position Saudi Arabia as a global cultural center and to turn heritage sites into sustainable platforms for artistic innovation.
