AFALULA – French Agency for AlUla Development

l’art en plus advised the first AlUla artistic residency programs exhibition in 2024.

In October 2024, during Art Basel Paris, the exhibition Orbis Tertius brought together, for the first time, 20 contemporary artists who participated in the artistic residency programmes in the oasis city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Curated by Arnaud Morand, Head of Arts at AFALULA, and inspired by the writings of Jorge Luis Borges, the exhibition revolves around themes such as how the world can be embedded into storytelling and the inconsistent boundaries between fiction and reality, where myths and legends hybridize with scientific knowledge.

The “AlUla artists in residency” programme was established in 2021 by Arts AlUla and AFALULA and is an essential part of AlUla’s ambitious vision for the 21st century, positioning contemporary creation as a cornerstone of the project. It provides a platform for regional and international artists to explore and experiment in AlUla’s breathtaking landscape, enriched by 200,000 years of human history. It fosters dynamic dialogues between artists, between creatives and experts, and with AlUla’s local communities.

l’art en plus assisted AFALULA and Arts AlUla in the conception and orchestration of an ambitious communications and image campaign to mark the first exhibition in France of AlUla artists in residency. Combining global strategy, media and public relations, digital communications and the creation of video content for social networks, the campaign positioned the exhibition as a highlight of art week in Paris. The resounding success of this initiative reinforced AlUla’s visibility and cultural impact on the international art scene.