Ithra Art Prize 2025 Expands to Showcase Arab Artistic Excellence
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, has officially opened submissions for the 7th edition of the prestigious Ithra Art Prize. This significant cultural initiative, launched in 2017, has become one of the Arab world’s most prominent platforms dedicated to empowering contemporary artists. Submissions began on July 24 and will remain open until October 16, 2025. The grand prize offers a $100,000 art grant, and for the first time, finalists will also benefit from production grants and a collective exhibition.
A Revitalized Approach for the 7th Edition
Unlike previous years, the 2025 edition of the Ithra Art Prize introduces new enhancements that elevate the impact and inclusivity of the initiative. Not only will one winner receive the $100,000 grant, but five finalists will also receive production funding to bring their creative visions to life. These works will be featured in a collective exhibition at Ithra, scheduled for spring 2026. This evolution in structure marks a strategic shift in the Prize’s philosophy, aiming to deepen engagement with regional artists and foster collective cultural dialogue.
The exhibition will take place at Ithra’s iconic cultural center in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, returning the prize to its birthplace. During this curated exhibition, the final winner will be selected by a distinguished jury panel. The move reaffirms Ithra’s commitment to amplifying Arab voices and strengthening the cultural ecosystem through visibility and recognition.
Who Can Apply and What Makes the Cut
The Ithra Art Prize welcomes submissions from artists and collectives aged 18 and older, who are either of Arab heritage or currently reside in one of the 22 Arab League countries. This inclusive eligibility reflects the initiative’s broader goal of encompassing diverse artistic expressions rooted in Arab identity and experiences.
Applications may include both new commissions and recontextualized existing artworks, provided they demonstrate a thoughtful engagement with the region’s cultural, social, or environmental contexts. Artworks must align with the values of sustained research, intellectual curiosity, and contextually aware practices. Priority is given to submissions that critically explore the conditions of contemporary Arab societies.
As emphasized by Farah Abushullaih, Head of Ithra’s Museum, the Prize is designed to reward artists who interact creatively and critically with the world around them. She noted, “The 7th Edition of the Ithra Art Prize marks a homecoming that expands the Prize’s scope through an exhibition at Ithra, featuring multiple works in dialogue with one another.”
Celebrating a Legacy of Impactful Winners
Since its inception, the Ithra Art Prize has established itself as a transformative platform for emerging and mid-career Arab artists. Its impact is evident in the global exhibitions and critical recognition of previous winners:
2018: Ayman Zedani won the inaugural edition with Mem, unveiled at Art Dubai. The work explored themes of memory and material transformation.
2019: Daniah Al Saleh was awarded for Sawtam, an audio-visual installation deconstructing Arabic phonemes. It later traveled to the State Hermitage Museum in Russia.
2020: Fahad bin Naif’s Rakhm reflected on urban ecosystems and environmental preservation.
2021: E Pluribus Unum by Nadia Kaabi-Linke tackled pandemic-era anxieties and socio-political divisions, presented at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale.
2023: Adel Abidin, a Finnish-Iraqi artist, was recognized for ON, a large-scale multimedia installation delving into surveillance and control.
2024: Obaid Alsafi captured hearts with Palms in Eternal Embrace, inspired by Saudi Arabia’s ancient landscapes. Drawing from the 5,000-year-old Rajajil Columns and the sandstone pillars of Qaryat Al Faw, the installation elegantly linked archaeology with environmental consciousness.
These winners underscore the Ithra Art Prize’s pivotal role in bridging Arab creativity with global platforms and enriching the cultural archives of the Arab world.
Connecting Culture and Creativity with Global Audiences
The Ithra Art Prize is much more than a monetary award. It is an engine of cultural exchange and professional development. The winning work is acquired into Ithra’s permanent collection, gaining a lasting presence in the annals of Arab contemporary art. Past prize recipients have gone on to forge influential careers, with exhibitions and collaborations across prestigious venues and international art fairs.
This continued exposure strengthens Arab representation in the global arts landscape, ensuring their voices and narratives are part of broader conversations about art, history, and society.
In previous editions, partnerships with major regional cultural institutions such as Art Dubai, Diriyah Biennale Foundation, and AlUla Arts Festival have reinforced the prize’s credibility and outreach. By aligning with these organizations, the Prize bolsters the visibility of Arab artists and invites discourse on regional creativity.
A Vision Rooted in Enrichment and Exploration
The Ithra Art Prize stems from Ithra’s foundational mission to enrich lives through knowledge, creativity, and cultural exploration. The term “Ithra” itself means enrichment in Arabic, and the organization, established by Saudi Aramco, was envisioned as a national beacon for cultural transformation. Since its public opening in 2018, Ithra has become an architectural and intellectual landmark, promoting dialogue through its diverse programming.
Its sprawling Dhahran-based campus features a museum, cinema, theatre, library, children’s museum, Idea Lab, and more each space designed to incubate ideas and elevate creative expression. These spaces are vital in providing year-round support for emerging talents across the arts, sciences, and humanities.
Through initiatives like the Ithra Art Prize, the center nurtures talent across disciplines while ensuring the region’s stories and cultural heritage are preserved and evolved for future generations.
Amplifying the Role of Art in Climate and Culture
The 2024 winning work by Obaid Alsafi, Palms in Eternal Embrace, illustrates the potential of contemporary art to engage deeply with environmental concerns. The installation’s reference to ancient stone structures once used for astronomical purposes reveals how art can bridge the past with urgent global conversations about sustainability and climate change.
Saudi Arabia’s ancient sites such as Rajajil Columns and Qaryat Al Faw not only serve as archaeological treasures but also as reminders of the region’s ongoing relationship with nature. The inclusion of such themes in art resonates with Ithra’s mission to foster meaningful dialogue around heritage, environment, and innovation.
As climate change and cultural preservation become more interlinked, the Ithra Art Prize emerges as a model for using art as a catalyst for awareness and advocacy in the Arab world and beyond.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation in the Arab World
The broader vision of the Ithra Art Prize lies in its ability to reflect the evolving identity of Arab societies. By supporting recontextualized works alongside new commissions, Ithra invites artists to reimagine traditions through the lens of modern realities. This dual focus creates a rich interplay of heritage and innovation allowing the past and present to converse.
In doing so, the prize not only preserves cultural memory but also propels it forward, aligning with global trends in contemporary art that value research-based and socially engaged practices.
A Call for Creative Futures
With its 7th edition, the Ithra Art Prize is poised to make its most impactful statement yet. Artists and collectives across the Arab world are encouraged to participate and shape the artistic and cultural future of the region.
The 2025 edition strengthens the prize’s founding principles originality, intellectual depth, and contextual engagement while broadening its structure to be more inclusive and impactful. By doing so, it ensures that the prize remains not just a moment of recognition but a continuous catalyst for growth and cultural enrichment.
Artists who are interested in applying should visit Ithra’s official website for eligibility criteria, submission guidelines, and further updates on the exhibition.
