Diriyah: The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has revealed its schedule of public programs for April 2026, which will run alongside the third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale hosted at Jax District in Diriyah. This biennale will be open to visitors until May 2.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the foundation's public programs are an integral part of its year-round strategy, aiming to transform the Biennale from a mere exhibition into a continuous platform for intellectual and creative exchange. The programs include talks, screenings, workshops, and performances, designed to make curatorial research accessible and to facilitate interactions among artists, practitioners, and audiences, fostering critical and creative engagement.
This April marks the return of The Research Room with its second edition, "Timekeepers: The Archive in Flux," scheduled for April 22-25. This annual symposium delves into the intersection of art and daily life with a multidisciplinary approach. It gathers artists, researchers, and practitioners globally, featuring talks, workshops, screenings, and interactive formats. Notable contributors include Yasmina Hilal, NUWAH, the Arab Design Archive, KWLA Lab, and Anthropology Bel3araby. The event will culminate in presentations and activations that deepen the Biennale's exploration of archival practices.
Alongside this symposium, additional programs will investigate the concept of the archive as a dynamic medium. Darkroom Amman leads a three-day masterclass, "Selves in Transit: Archiving Image in Movement," where participants engage with stop-motion techniques to animate personal and family archives. Participants will utilize photography, documents, and memorabilia related to themes of migration and change to create short visual projects. Filmmaker and artist Tamer El Said's program, "In the Presence of Absence," will explore the artistic, technical, and ethical aspects of working with archives, highlighting how meaning is constructed through selection, mediation, and reuse.
The foundation will also host 'A Counter-Archive Lab: Micro-residency,' a six-day intensive program by Anthropology Bel3araby. This initiative encourages collective research and interdisciplinary experimentation to challenge prevailing narratives and develop new knowledge forms, ending with a public activation.
Moreover, the foundation is collaborating with Christie's to offer a masterclass titled "Contemporary Art in the Middle East: On Culture and Value," led by experts Ted Sandling, Marie-Claire Tissen, and Dr. Ghada Al-Harthi. This program includes lectures, discussions, and artist studio visits in JAX District, providing insights into the regional art scene and its connections to global cultural markets.
The April schedule also features special sessions for children with special needs and orphaned children, designed by education and creative therapy specialists. These sessions aim to enhance self-expression, build confidence, and create a sense of belonging.
Additionally, the Biennale's Cinema Nights, in partnership with the Red Sea Film Foundation, will continue throughout April, showcasing a selection of short films.