Dhahran | 29 Muharram 1447 AH – July 24, 2025

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced the opening of applications for the seventh edition of the “Ithra Art Prize,” one of the leading art prizes in the Arab world, which aims to support and empower contemporary art and boost cultural and artistic activity by giving artists the chance to showcase their work on professional platforms and engage with a wide regional and international audience.

Prize value and significance. Ithra awards a grand prize of $100,000 (SAR 375,000) for the winning work, which will be acquired for Ithra Museum's permanent collection — a unique opportunity for participating artists to cement their artistic presence at one of the region's leading cultural destinations.

Wider participation and a closing exhibition. This year the program is expanding significantly, with the jury selecting five finalist artists to receive production grants to create and realize their artworks, which will be shown in a dedicated exhibition at Ithra in April 2026. The final winner will be chosen based on a comprehensive assessment during the exhibition.

At a Glance

  • Eligibility: individual artists or creative collectives, aged 18 or older, who are Arab nationals or residents of Arab countries.
  • Submissions: new or previously submitted works are accepted, provided they show continuity in artistic practice and conceptual research.
  • Application deadline: October 16, 2025.

Farah Abushoulih, head of Ithra Museum, said the prize represents a return to Arab artistic roots and seeks to support contemporary voices engaging in creative dialogues around deep issues and concepts, noting that the upcoming exhibition will allow multiple works to sit alongside one another and interact within a vibrant artistic space.