Heritage Narratives
in Saudi Arabia

Collaborative Workshops for Artists Based in Saudi Arabia

The Goethe-Institut invites artists based in Saudi Arabia to apply for Heritage Narratives in Saudi Arabia, a collaborative workshop series taking place in Riyadh from 18 October to 26 October 2026.

The programme will bring together Berlin-based graphic designer and typographer Verena Gerlach and a group of artists working across different artistic and creative disciplines.

Participants are invited to explore and share their own stories and the stories of their communities while engaging with the history, cultural and craft heritage, and contemporary creative landscape of Saudi Arabia. The programme aims to preserve traditional crafts, encourage cultural exchange, support the transmission of cultural knowledge to younger generations, and explore how elements of Saudi heritage can be interpreted through contemporary artistic practices.

Through workshops, training sessions, conversations and collaborative artistic production, participants will exchange knowledge about their backgrounds, practices and local traditions. The programme welcomes artists working in areas such as:

• Textiles
• Mural painting
• Graphic design
• Crafts
• Photography
• Other related artistic disciplines

A central focus of the programme will be exploring Saudi Arabia’s history and cultural heritage, and the ways in which traditional visual languages, architecture, design, crafts and cultural narratives can be interpreted and developed through contemporary artistic approaches.

Throughout the programme, participants will explore the local history and heritage through experiential learning and engaging with artists and designers in Saudi Arabia. These encounters encourage participants to consider how history, heritage and design influence contemporary Saudi identity, and how these stories can be narrated through different artistic and creative forms.

Toward the end of the workshops, participants will begin developing a final artistic outcome and consider how it can be presented to audiences in Saudi Arabia and internationally. If necessary, following the in-person programme in Riyadh, additional online sessions with Verena Gerlach will be held to support participants in completing their projects.

The final outcomes are planned to be exhibited in Saudi Arabia in 2027, with the possibility of a subsequent presentation in Berlin.​​​​​​​

Workshop dates: 18 October – 26 October 2026
Location: Goethe-Institut, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Application deadline:  30 September 2026

Application

Artists based in Saudi Arabia who are interested in participating in the programme are invited to complete the registration form below.
 

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and asked to submit a professional portfolio presentation. Please ensure that you are prepared to provide a portfolio that meets the following requirements:

• Selected artworks: Include 10–12 of your best and most recent works that are relevant to the programme.
• Professional documentation: Photograph or scan your work in bright, even and preferably natural light.
• Artwork information: Each work should include its title, year, medium and dimensions.
• Format: Submit the portfolio as a PDF.
• Narrative: Structure the presentation with a clear beginning, middle and end that communicates a coherent story.
• Artistic process: Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an online meeting to discuss their artistic intentions, techniques and how they addressed challenges during the development of their work.