RIYADH: Riyadh is to become home to a new art center located in one of its prominent landmark buildings.

The Ministry of Culture announced it was launching the Fenaa Alawwal center at the former headquarters of Alawwal Bank in the Diplomatic Quarter.

It said that Fenaa Alawwal would bring together thinkers, creators and leading talents to offer art exhibitions, panels and workshops. 

The building, which opened in 1988, has become a distinctive part of the city, with its colossal columns and traditional Najdi-style motifs.

It was recently placed under the custody of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in line with Vision 2030’s National Transformation Program, of which culture is an essential component.

The center will host temporary art exhibitions, creative and educational workshops, and a diverse program of seminars and other cultural activities. It will be the first cultural center to be opened by the ministry. 

Fenaa Alawwal will also be home to a specialized library offering a wide selection of art books. A sculpture garden will feature six unique art pieces, the majority of which were commissioned for the center.

The Alawwal Bank, formerly known as the Saudi Hollandi Bank, was the first commercial bank to operate in the Kingdom.