This book spotlights the role that contemporary art will play in Saudi
Arabia's new push for cultural diplomacy as well as sweeping reform in
the country. As the Kingdom mobilises its vast resources behind the
economic and social priorities of its Vision 2030 strategy and seeks new
terms of engagement with the international community, art is set to take
centre stage. This book looks at both the historic and contemporary
contexts for this recent state-led focus on art in the Kingdom; at how
its planned events and programmes stand apart, in resource, scale and
ambition, from seemingly similar initiatives coming from that region;
and at both the opportunities and pitfalls, not just for the burgeoning
art world of Saudi Arabia, but for practitioners and professionals
around the world.