Sarah Alruwayti on Riyadh's Shift from Vision to Execution

Sarah Alruwayti, director of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, discusses the evolution of Riyadh Art’s public art initiatives under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The symposium has grown from a local project into a global open-call forum, commissioning over 120 international sculptors to create permanent works using local materials like Saudi granite and reclaimed metal. The latest edition, themed "Traces of What Will Be," focuses on urban transformation and the historical context of Riyadh’s changing landscape.

This interview highlights the strategic shift from cultural planning to large-scale execution within the Saudi art market. By integrating permanent public sculptures into the city's urban strategy, Riyadh is positioning itself as a major regional hub for contemporary art and urban design. The project reflects a broader trend of state-led cultural investment aimed at diversifying the economy and fostering a new, "emergent" local art scene through international collaboration.