Short Description

Established in 2017, the Ithra Art Prize is one of the most significant art awards dedicated to contemporary artists from or based in the 22 Arab countries. Initially focused on Saudi artists, the Prize has since expanded to include practices across the arab region.

Rooted in Ithra’s mission to ignite cultural curiosity and champion original thought, the Prize supports artists whose work is intellectually engaged and contextually responsive.

In its seventh edition, the Prize returns to Dhahran, with a significant expansion from previous years, the Ithra Art Prize, through its appointed jury, will select several finalists who will receive production grants to showcase their work in an exhibition at Ithra in the spring of 2026. A final winner will be selected during the run of the exhibition.


Eligibility

  • Eligible artists must be from, or based in, one of the 22 Arab countries*.
  • Eligible artists must demonstrate a coherent and sustained artistic practice of at least eight years.
  • The proposed artwork must reflect engaged inquiry, experimentation and a process-oriented approach developed over multiple years.
  • The proposed artwork can be a new commission or a significant adaptation of an existing work.
  • The proposed artwork must not have been previously shown on any major platform in the region (including art festivals, biennales and museums) and not have received a major grant from the kingdom.
  • As the artwork may enter an institutional collection, it must consider long-term maintenance and conservation requirements.
  • The proposed work must be feasible to produce within the set timeframe and budget. 

*22 Arab countries:

Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

Awarded biennially by an international jury, the Prize grants $100,000 to a final winner, whose work is also acquired into the Ithra collection.

Entry Fee

None

Location

Saudi Arabia

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 16 October 2025

Website Link: https://www.ithra.com/en/special-programs/ithra-art-prize

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