AlUla Arts Festival starting Feb 16 will host an extensive range of exhibitions and artistic attractions

The AlUla Arts Festival returns this year with an extensive range of exhibitions and artistic attractions from Feb. 16-28.

With some programs extending until May, the festival will take place in the scenic historic landscape for 12 days with an events calendar that has attracted artists from all over the world.

The 2023 theme is “Living in Color” to reflect colorful works of art and performances including an exclusive 70-piece exhibition by famed US pop artist Andy Warhol.

In collaboration with the Andy Warhol Museum based in the US, museum director Patrick Moore curated an exhibition featuring the mesmerizing installation “Silver Clouds,” iconic prints of Hollywood stars, various photographs, and paintings.

Held at the Maraya, the “FAME: Andy Warhol in AlUla” exhibition will also include a performance titled “13 Most Beautiful,” which pairs large-scale projections of silent films by Warhol with a performance by the American rock act Dean and Britta.

Warhol’s films and documentary will be playing at the outdoor cinema and cafe Cinema Al-Jadidah, as part of AlUla Cinema Week. The film program is in partnership with the Red Sea International Film Festival and will include a photography exhibition honoring female icons of Egyptian cinema.

The festival will offer visitors the chance to partake in multiple tours: Art in Landscape Guided Hike will explore the Wadi Al-Fann landscape, Living in Color Guided Tours will take guests to the Community Square in the Arts District and Oasis to view commissioned art, and Of Myrrh and Silver Scent Walking Tours will explore the ancient Incense Road.

The “Palimpsest of Time” is an exhibition being hosted at Hotel Mabiti. It will feature 13 current and previous artists from the AlUla Artists Residency program.

The Madrasat Addeera Program will host workshops for visitors to join in wood carving, textile weaving, palm frond weaving, geometry and decorative design.

Additionally, from Feb. 20 to 28, several up-and-coming photographers will have the chance to join the AlUla Canon Young People’s program to learn more about visual storytelling.

With an extensive range of exhibitions and activities, the AlUla Arts Festival is set to be one of the most exciting events for artists and creatives in the region this year.

Alturki has been to AlUla before to attend the Desert x AlUla 2022, an open-air art exhibition.