With its distinctive colossal columns and Najdi-style motifs, this newest addition to the Diplomatic Quarter is nothing short of a treasure trove of all things culture and creativity.
Fenaa Alawwal (FAA) is a unique cultural and creative hub that opened doors to new conversations, ultimately creating opportunities for genuine global cultural exchange. Offering diverse programs ranging from art exhibits to workshops, panel discussions to performances that aim at fostering engagement between Saudi and international creatives, encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration. Read on to find out more from FAA’s Director, Mrs. Rola AlGhrair.
What is the story of FAA?
FAA has quite an intriguing story; from an economic and financial center to a cultural hub. In fact, FAA is located in the historic building of Alawwal Bank, formerly the Saudi Hollandi Bank, the first commercial bank to operate in the Kingdom. Its Riyadh headquarters, built in 1988 by the Omrania Company is among the prominent landmarks of the Diplomatic Quarter. It has a distinctive design consisting of colossal columns framed in a square-shaped canopy and decorated with traditional Najdi-style motifs.
Gleaming in a white hue amidst DQ’s brick buildings and overseeing a beautifully landscaped garden flooded with light; as though the infrastructure was awaiting its cultural destiny. In line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and as part of its efforts to promote culture as a way of life, the Ministry of Culture has repurposed Alawwal building into a multidisciplinary cultural center. The center recently hosted a widely acclaimed exhibition ‘The Memory Deposit’ inspired by the memory of Fenaa Alawwal as a bank, presenting the history of the Saudi currency through an artistic lens.
What values does FAA represent?
Firstly, FAA is an inclusive place. At FAA, we strive to build an environment where people of different backgrounds, talents and imaginations come together, interact, and co-learn.
Secondly, FAA is a progressive platform. We are a home for creative thinkers; we encourage an open mindset and aim to provide an optimal environment for the generation of new ideas in the cultural field and beyond.
Lastly, FAA is resourceful as it empowers young talents and supports the community through a variety of educational, artistic, and innovative offerings.
Could you explain the concept of ‘Third Place Experience’?
In sociology, the third place refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. They are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships. FAA is that ‘third place’. By offering variety of cultural and artistic programs, it is a space that provides visitors with the opportunity to discover and explore new horizons, thus enriching their intellectual journey.
In addition, FAA’s specialized arts library along with “Circle 3 by Acoustic” Restaurant and Café, offers spaces where visitors can rest, escape from the mundane and socialize. FAA aims to pioneer the “Third Place Experience” in the Kingdom. In a nutshell, FAA is meant to be your space, your place.
What are some of the unique offerings at the cultural center?
FAA has two unique permanent features: the ‘Vault’ and the ‘Sculpture Garden’. Located on the ground floor, the Vault is an intriguing art installation that’s a major attraction for visitors. Installed in the circular alcove where the bank’s automated teller machine was once located, this door fragment of the actual Alawwal Bank’s vault has been transformed into a permanent installation. Projecting a digital animation of banknotes, it provides an immaterial evocation of the place and its primary function. Visitors will embark on a magical voyage between past and present, evoking a glimpse of mystery, and unleashing their imagination.
The Sculpture Garden is another captivating attraction. Located in the building’s exterior premises, in a beautifully landscaped garden, the Sculpture Garden features a collection of six unique art pieces, a majority of which were specially commissioned for FAA. This permanent art collection offers visitors the opportunity to discover the work of renowned local and international artists.
How can embassies get involved with FAA?
FAA’s geographical position at the heart of the Diplomatic Quarter makes it easier for the center to achieve its mission of promoting cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. As of next year, our educational, cultural, and artistic programming will be based on partnerships with embassies. We seek to embody cross-cultural collaboration by organizing art exhibits, panel discussions, and other offerings that are based on a genuine collaboration with embassies, all the way from ideation to curation to execution. Such partnership aims at introducing the residents and visitors to international creative practices, and to bolster and celebrate the Saudi creative scene, which ultimately contributes to enhancing the status of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its international cultural representation.
How can DQ residents benefit from FAA’s activities?
This cultural center is a gift to the DQ community. Residents can stop by FAA to meet with their friends, enjoy good coffee, read a book, attend a cultural event, and interact with the Saudi intellectual and artistic scene.
Our current art exhibit, “Woven Spaces”, is a must-see! Showcasing the works of 10 Saudi and international artists, this exhibition offers a contemporary reflection on ways to convey history, tradition, culture, and memory. “Woven Spaces” presents a diverse approach in mixed media that opens a dialogue among the artists. The artworks on display offer a recollection of feelings that emerged from each artist’s mind and life, delicately woven into one experience. Through impressions of objects, we hope to provoke an exploration of these intertwining spaces. The exhibit runs till July 2023 and is free of charge. We invite you all to visit the exhibit and explore a unique collection of artworks, each revealing an untold story.
FAA is open to all (DQ residents and non-residents)
No membership or entry fee is required.
The art library and Circle 3 café offer co-working spaces.
Opening hours:
FAA: 9am-10pm every day except Friday: 4pm-10pm
Circle 3 café and restaurant: 9am-10pm
For more information, visit: https://engage.moc.gov.sa/fenaa-alawwal/#
