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RIYADH: JAX District in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, has hosted a week-long series of Noor Talks as part of community engagement activities accompanying the light festival Noor Riyadh 2024.
Noor Riyadh is running until Dec. 14 with the theme “Light Years Apart.”
The talks served as a platform for cultural dialogues, reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global hub for art and creativity.
They blended creativity with critical thinking, inspiring participants to explore new horizons in the realms of art and society.
The talks were held to explore the dimensions of art and culture from a multifaceted perspective.
Sessions addressed topics related to art and culture and featured the participation of artists, curators, specialists, and cultural experts, as well as those interested in the sector.
The discussions also focused on the role of cultural institutions in boosting art and culture, as well as their importance in promoting communication between generations.
In a session moderated by Gaida Al-Mogren, artistic director of the Noor Riyadh Festival, Effat Abdullah Fadag and Alfredo Cramerotti, the festival’s co-curators, discussed the symbiotic relationship between the Earth and the stars and how this influenced both the symbolic and practical aspects of the festival.
They emphasized that curators and artists benefited from exchanging diverse viewpoints which allowed artworks to evolve and highlighted the festival’s theme, along with the variety of artistic perspectives.
In another session, Refik Anadol, Lachlan Turczan and Ebtehal Al-Rajhi discussed the creative process behind designing public art, emphasizing its importance in resonating with the audience to enhance community participation and strengthen cultural identity.
The session emphasized the ability of public art to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment, relying on technology, environmental harmony, and narrative approaches to interact with the public on multiple levels.
In a session moderated by Miguel Blanco-Carrasco, and featuring panelists Vilma Jurkute, Nawaf Alharbi, and Nour Kelani, building creative communities through collaborative work was discussed.
The session also touched on the role of music and artistic performances in fostering cultural innovation; the importance of creating sustainable networks to support creators; and providing spaces for dialogue and education.
The talks, which were held throughout last week, concluded with a dialogue moderated by cultural expert Sara Al-Mutlaq, in which the role of cultural institutions in the 21st century was discussed. The session featured Noura Al-Maashouq, Jack Persekian, Farah Abushullaih, and Nora Aldabal.
The participants emphasized the importance of museums and cultural institutions as platforms for inspiration and learning, especially for the young.