Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 not only aims to transform the economy but is also reshaping its cultural landscape. In their insightful book “Art in Saudi Arabia: A New Creative Economy?“, Rebecca Anne Proctor and Alia Al-Senussi explore the burgeoning role of contemporary art in this transformation.
The authors illustrate Saudi Arabia’s strategy of integrating art into its broader socio-economic reforms. Through an array of state-supported initiatives—museum openings, public art installations, and cultural events—the Kingdom is crafting a new identity that is as much rooted in its rich traditions as it is in contemporary practices. These efforts are portrayed not just as enrichments to the national culture but also as integral to Saudi’s international image.
Proctor and Al-Senussi do not gloss over the challenges these rapid changes might pose to the organic development of the art scene. Yet, they…
