RIYADH: The Saudi Visual Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission, on Sunday announced the open call for the second Intermix Residency, set to run from Dec. 4 until Feb. 28.

With the support of the Quality of Life Program, the residency will take place at Diriyah Biennale Foundation spaces in the thriving cultural hub of JAX District, located in the historical city of Diriyah on the outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, enabling close direct access to local artists.

The residency is a funded program that provides local, regional and international visual artists, fashion designers and creatives full access to their own private studios and accommodation and a platform to engage in discussions and exchange creative ideas.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore a range of themes, including innovation, transformation and sustainability, during their three-month residency that will conclude with open studios to a local audience.

Applicants will be evaluated and short-listed by a committee of visual arts and fashion experts before the final selection is made.

Members of the committee include: Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission; Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission; Dania Al-Saleh, visual artist; Emily Marant, functional art editor at French Cliché; Jean Pierre Blanc, founder of the Annual International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères; and Jordan Nassar, visual artist.

Managed by ATHR and operated by Manifesto, the Intermix Residency is proud to have Saudi resident curator Tara Al-Dughaither on board to support residents as they navigate their practice.

Al-Dughaither’s curatorial practice centers around community-oriented modes of situated knowledge production, and her methods draw from a pedagogy she terms “folk futurism,” which is inspired by indigenous ways of knowing in relationship to a radically transforming culture for creatives across the globe.

“We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of artists and designers to the Intermix Residency program at JAX,” said Amin.

“The first cycle was comprised of an incredibly talented group of visual artists and fashion and textile designers whom we had the great pleasure of welcoming to Riyadh and to the program. We are thrilled to be able to support the residents with the opportunities provided through both the physical space and an environment of creative exchange amongst fellow artists. We are excited to explore their practice during their open studios.”

Applications are open until Nov. 10. Selected artists will be notified of their acceptance to the residency in late November. For more information on the residency and how to apply, please visit: https://engage.moc.gov.sa/moc-intermix-recidency/