Riyadh Art Program Opens Global Call for 8th Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium 2027

Riyadh Art Program Opens Global Call for 8th Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium 2027

Amr Yehia

The Riyadh Art program, one of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City's projects, has announced the opening of applications for the 8th edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium 2027, scheduled to be held in Riyadh early next year under the theme "In the Depths of Roots."

The symposium will begin receiving applications from artists from the Kingdom and around the world from 18 October to 8 November 2026.

Twenty artists will be selected by curators to create sculptural works in Riyadh. Applicants must have at least three years of professional experience in sculpture and art exhibitions, and experience executing artistic commissions in the field of public art.

The program announced the curators for the 8th edition: British curator and artistic producer Aldo Rinaldi, British-Italian curator and artistic director Oronda Scalera, alongside Saudi artist, researcher, academic and curator Dr. Soha Al-Zaid. The three curators will oversee the artistic direction of the symposium and select the participating artists.

The theme of the 8th edition, "In the Depths of Roots," explores the layers of earth, memory and culture that shape place, and their connection to the transformations it witnesses. The vision is based on the idea that roots are not only a link to the past, but a source of growth and the ability to reshape place and envision its future.

The 2027 edition will include a diverse range of materials, including granite, metals, decorative ventilation blocks, mosaic and cement. Selected artists working with stone will have access to granite extracted from the Kingdom in three distinctive colors: "Royal Gold," "Green," and "Royal Pink," alongside black basalt, opening the door to innovative treatments of these traditional materials.

Sarah Al-Ruwaitaa, Director of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, affirmed that the symposium allows the public to follow the creative process closely and watch artists working side-by-side to complete large-scale sculptural works, adding that each sculpture is a shared experience that enhances the city's connection to art.

The symposium allows the public to watch artists directly as they execute their works over three weeks and learn about the stages of their completion, as in previous editions. The sculpting works will be accompanied by a community engagement program, including school and university visits, practical workshops, and specialized dialogue sessions on art, sculpture and urban planning.

The symposium will conclude with an exhibition open to the public, after which the completed works will be distributed to various locations in the capital to join the permanent artworks of the "Riyadh Art" program.

The Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium is considered one of the main pillars of the "Riyadh Art" program, which was launched in 2019 to contribute to enriching public life in the capital and enhancing the presence of art in its spaces.

To apply for Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium 2027, visit the Riyadh Art program website.