Edge Of Arabia
Edge of Arabia an independent arts initiative developing the appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.
The project was born from a chance encounter in 2003 between Offscreen Founder, Stephen Stapleton, and Saudi artists at the Al Meftaha Arts Village in Abha. For the next six years Stephen, and Edge of Arabia co-founders, Ahmed Mater and Abdulnasser Gharem travelled the length and breadth of the country, from the mountains of Aseer to the backstreets of Jeddah, in search of outstanding artists voices to showcase in London.
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Edge of Arabia officially launched with a major exhibition at London’s Brunei Gallery in October 2008. The project has since launched a world tour and presented exhibitions at the 53rd and 54th Venice Biennale, the Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh, Art Dubai, 6th Berlin Biennale and Contemporary Istanbul.
To date Edge of Arabia has:
• Produced The Future of a Promise: the first pan-Arab show of contemporary art at the 54th Venice Biennale.
• Put on exhibitions in London, Venice, Riyadh, Berlin, Istanbul and Dubai which have been visited by over 30,000.
• Presented the first ever showcase of Contemporary Saudi art at the Venice Biennale.
• Showcased 40 Saudi artists from Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Dahran, Khamis Mushait and Abha.
• Published the first comprehensive visual arts book on Saudi Contemporary Art and distributed this book at high profile events as well as to museum directors, curators and galleries all over the world.
• Generated over 250 international news articles and features about the project.
• Engaged over 200 schools and universities through the distribution of 150 resource packs and the delivery of 28 workshops and 2 seminars in the UK, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Received over 1.5 million hits on www.edgeofarabia.com
• Supported Saudi artists to showcase their work in museums, art fairs and galleries across the world as well as to sell their work to major collectors.
Edge of Arabia is an independent not for profit Community Interest Company, Registered in England and Wales Company Number: 7203671 and with a registered office at 1 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE and a new branch on the Al-Madinah Road in Jeddah.