RIYADH: Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan inaugurated the Black Gold Museum at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh, marking a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape.
The museum is the first of its kind, exploring the transformation and global impact of oil on development and societies through modern and contemporary art. It offers visitors an opportunity to engage with the story of “black gold” in a new way.
Prince Abdulaziz said the museum is the result of collaboration between the cultural ecosystem, represented by the Museums Commission, and the energy ecosystem, represented by the King Abdullah Center.
He added that the museum aims to present a comprehensive narrative of the history of oil and its far-reaching impact across all aspects of life.
Prince Badr said: “The Black Gold Museum marks an important milestone in the arts sector and global cultural discourse. As the first permanent museum dedicated to oil and art, it provides an unprecedented space for reflection and critical thought and celebrates the transformative power of culture in shaping our understanding of the world.”
The opening underscores the Museums Commission’s commitment to safeguarding history while fostering new forms of artistic expression, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Unlike traditional science or industry museums, the Black Gold Museum approaches oil through an artistic, cultural, and human lens.
It features a permanent collection of more than 350 artworks from over 30 countries, created by more than 170 leading Saudi and international artists, including Manal Al-Dowayan, Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono, Mohammad Alfaraj, Ayman Zedani, Doug Aitken, Jimmie Durham, Dennis Hopper, Alfredo Jaar, Renaud Layrac, George Sabra, Pascale Marthine Tayou, and Andy Wauman, among others.
In addition, the museum presents major installations, photographs, and historical documentation, offering visitors an opportunity to explore how oil has shaped societies, economies, and everyday life.
The museum is organized into four interactive sections: Encounter, Dreams, Doubts, and Visions. Encounter presents the global story of oil’s discovery and its early uses in the 19th century, highlighting its role in driving industrialization. Dreams traces how oil became a vital resource that reshaped societies and fueled development ambitions. Doubts offers a critical reflection on oil’s impact and the complexities of global reliance on it. Visions looks toward the future through a dynamic program of dialogue and discovery.
