JEDDAH — Art Jameel, an independent organization that supports arts, education and heritage in the Middle East and beyond, this week marks the finale of Navigating the Contemporary Art Scene, the inaugural iteration of Hayy:Learning, an educational platform for creatives based in Saudi Arabia. The program, a combination of intensive weeks of tutor-led workshops and lectures in addition to independent and guided online learning and research, took place in Beydoun space in Jeddah, from September through Dec. 7. In advance of the launch of Hayy: Creative Hub in the winter of 2020, Navigating the Contemporary Art Scene was designed to respond to the needs of the Saudi arts scene and support emerging and upcoming Saudi-based artists in developing their skills and career-development, and tracing local and regional arts histories. Through a bespoke program, consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops, site visits and readings, Hayy:Learning encourages participants to: • Unpack the development of recent Saudi art history; explore where the Saudi art scene is today; and debate where it will go. • Debate global trends in contemporary art concepts, curation and thinking, and think critically about the role of artists in the regional and international art scape. • Develop essential professional skills, including writing proposals and artist statements; building and packaging portfolios; developing production plans and budgets; and exploring the possibilities of alternative art spaces and projects. Art Jameel announced an Open Call for applications in April 2019, inviting Saudi artists to apply; after an overwhelming response, 15 artists were selected for the course, via a rigorous application and interview process. This dynamic, diverse group — from across Saudi, and from a variety of backgrounds and artistic practices — created an enriching, inter-generational and multidisciplinary dialogue. The participants included: Ahmed Sofi, Ammar Jimman, Ayman Daydban, Aziz Jamal, Balqis Al Rashed, Bashaer Hawsawi, Daniah Alsaleh, Fai Ahmad, Joud Fahmy, Khaled Al Tubaishi, Majed Angawi, Maysa Shaldan, Meshaal Alzeer, Moath Alofi and Zainab Mumtaz. Aziz Jamal, one of the participants, commented, "In art school, critique and discussion only occur intermittently; otherwise we are expected to learn independently. During the first week of Hayy:Learning, I found myself speaking, listening and engaging more than I have ever done so before in a traditional educational environment." Another participant, Maisa Shaldan, added, "It was not long into the first session of Hayy:Learning that I realised that everything I saw, heard and discussed was going to have a big impact on my ideas and artistic vision. The program, curated by Art Jameel, presented important topics for discussion or to be read, and lectures, by some of the most experienced and talented practitioners in the art scene. The course structure led to inspiring discussions that empower artists to present their ideas and work for examination, scrutiny and discussion to raise the calibre of their work." Hayy:Learning builds on, and is designed to complement, Art Jameel's established learning programs, including the one and two-year training programs delivered at its heritage institutions, Jameel House of Traditional Arts/Jeddah, located in Al-Balad and Jameel House of Traditional Arts/Cairo, in Old Cairo, focusing on traditional arts and the preservation of heritage in Saudi Arabia and Egypt respectively. Additionally, Art Jameel announced recently that it has partnered with Factum Foundation and the Royal Commission for Al-Ula to provide a two-week photogrammetry training program at the Factum Foundation headquarters in Madrid, for two students from Saudi Arabia Future editions of the intensive learning program will be delivered at Hayy:Creative Hub, Jeddah, once the complex opens late 2020.
