About the Residency
The AlUla Residency is a vital component of AlUla’s ambitious vision for the 21st century, positioning contemporary creation as a cornerstone of the project. It uniquely blends artistic intelligence with scientific expertise to shape the development of this remarkable destination, built by and for artists. Through this collaboration, we aim to envision and cultivate AlUla’s imagined futures.

This program provides a platform for both regional and international artists and designers to explore and experiment within AlUla’s breathtaking landscape, enriched by 200,000 years of human history. It fosters dynamic dialogues among artists, between creatives and experts, and the local communities of AlUla.

AlUla continuously reinvents itself as a fundamental utopia for the 21st century. The AlUla Artist Residency Programme offers creatives a meaningful framework to engage with the broader project, providing insights into community adaptation and inclusion. It guides us by drawing on the artists’ perceptions, questions, and critiques, while offering unparalleled time and context for artistic development. Residencies are a foundation of AlUla’s arts and creative industries strategy, deeply rooted in the land and its heritage. Situated in the palm grove of Mabiti AlUla, the programme offers an inspiring setting for artists to reflect on and re evaluate the role and methods of creative practices in the contemporary world. By exploring our connection with the past and our responsibility towards the environment, it brings new perspectives to the project, weaving narratives through diverse expressions.

The AlUla Residency Programme was established in 2021 by Arts AlUla and the French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula) and the first edition of the AlUla Design Residency was held in 2023.