L’Institut français in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Art, an initiative of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, announce the opening to the public of La Fabrique/المصنع on 22nd January in Riyadh. La Fabrique/المصنع is a new collaborative space in Riyadh Art Hub in JAX district where Saudi and French artists come together to create, experiment, and bring their vision to life.

Designed as an open creative laboratory, La Fabrique/المصنع offers to the general public a rare opportunity to witness art in the making – observing artistic creation across movement performances, digital and immersive arts, photography, music, cinema, culinary arts, poetry and beyond.

At its core, La Fabrique/المصنع fosters artistic exchange between French and Saudi artists, fostering new encounters, shared practices, and co-creation.

The initiative is fully aligned with the strategic cultural vision shared by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and HRH the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who have placed cultural cooperation at the heart of the renewed Saudi-French strategic partnership. La Fabrique/ المصنع translates this vision into concrete action, strengthening ties between two dynamic creative ecosystems through long-term cooperation.

Anchored in the ambitions of Vision 2030, La Fabrique/ المصنع is part of Riyadh’s transformation into a major international cultural hub. Developed in close cooperation with Riyadh Art an initiative of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and in dialogue with the institutions and commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the project strengthens the long-standing cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and France and reflects our shared commitment to artistic excellence, innovation, openness and respect for heritage.

Conceived as a long-term platform for collaboration, La Fabrique/المصنع brings together leading Saudi and French artists, institutions, and creative studios through a program of artistic dialogues and joint projects. These collaborations span visual arts, moving image, and digital creation. They connect artists such as Bilal Allaf and Mourad Merzouki or Mohammed Al-Faraj and Justine Emard. They bring together numerous institutions from both countries. These collaborations also open new pathways for the international visibility of Saudi talent, through exchanges, festivals and artistic residencies in France.

By nurturing creative exchange, supporting local talent, and opening new spaces for encounter, La Fabrique /المصنع contributes to the growth of Riyadh’s cultural ecosystem and expands access to contemporary creation for a wide and diverse audience.

Ambassador Maisonnave, Ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia:

“La Fabrique embodies the spirit of a new cultural chapter between France and Saudi Arabia. By bringing our artists together, we are not only sharing techniques and traditions, we are opening a space where imaginations meet, new forms emerge, and creativity becomes a bridge between our two societies. This initiative reflects our belief that artistic dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, trust, and a shared future. It stands as a concrete example of France’s contribution to the ambitions of Vision 2030”

Raphaël Justine, Director of the French Institute in Saudi Arabia:

“We are thrilled to launch the Institut français in Saudi Arabia, with a clear mandate: to deepen our cultural partnership and take it steps further. We could not have dreamed a better beginning than La Fabrique. We worked hand in hand and shaped together an innovative place grounded in trust, openness and creative exchange through a unique, a one-of-a-kind partnership with Riyadh Art that is built to last.”