Riyadh, March 26, 2025 – Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the first dedicated hub for New Media Arts in the MENA region, has announced the inaugural cohort of artists and scholars for its Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency, set to take place from April to July 2025.
According to a DAF press release, the residency aims to foster experimental research and artistic production by providing participants with cutting-edge labs, studios, production budgets, and showcasing opportunities. It brings together a diverse group of creative practitioners and scholars to explore innovative artistic practices, emerging ecologies, speculative futures, and the evolving intersections of land, history, art, and technology.
The inaugural cohort includes artists Dr. Stanza (UK), Harshit Agrawal (India), Arwa Alneami (Saudi Arabia), Reem Alnasser (Saudi Arabia), and Reem Alfagih (Saudi Arabia), alongside scholars Mizuho Yamazaki (Japan/France) and Anett Holzheid (Germany). Participants will develop projects inspired by the 2025 theme, “High-Resolution Dreams of Sand,” examining technology’s impact on both natural and constructed landscapes. The residency will culminate in a publication and a series of public events at DAF, offering audiences insights into pioneering artistic and research-driven explorations.
The press release highlights that the 2025 residency season allows artists and scholars to engage with DAF’s distinctive physical and conceptual setting, rooted in Diriyah’s historic farms and a city undergoing transformation.
Developed by the Museums Commission, DAF aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for New Media and Digital Art, amplifying the region’s influence at the intersection of art, science, and technology.