Edge Of Arabia
Edge of Arabia, a founding partner of the Crossway Foundation, is an independent arts initiative developing the appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.
As a social enterprise, Edge of Arabia is committed to reaching new audiences and improving understanding through touring, non-commercial and free exhibitions, through publications and through education programmes targeting schools and universities.
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"Powerful grassroots movements like Edge of Arabia are the best ways to reach people. Thank you for building bridges." Beral Madra, Head of Visual Arts, European Capital of Culture
Edge of Arabia was born from a chance encounter in 2003 between Crossway Founder Stephen Stapleton, and two Saudi artists, Ahmed Mater and Abdulnasser Gharem at the Al Meftaha Arts Village in Abha. For the next six years, the three of them 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.
Edge of Arabia officially launched with a major exhibition showcasing 17 artists from Saudi Arabia at London's Brunei Gallery in October 2008.
In June 2009, Edge of Arabia travelled to the 53rd Venice Biennale to the Palazzo Contarini Polignac where it featured the work of eight Saudi contemporary artists. Edge of Arabia continued its world tour with exhibitions in Berlin, Istanbul and Dubai in 2010 and 2011.
As a collateral Venice Biennale event in 2011, the grassroots initiative further broadened its outreach to produce the first pan-Arab exhibition of contemporary art as part of the 54th Art Biennale: The Future of a Promise.
With its first public show inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Edge of Arabia recently celebrated its homecoming in an unfinished shopping mall at the Al Furusia Marina with an exhibition entitled Edge of Arabia Jeddah: We Need To Talk. To continue engaging local school and university students in contemporary art from across the region, Edge of Arabia's accompanying art education programme included an art symposium, a dedicated education room with workshop, presentation and research facilities for visitors, guided tours of the exhibition and practical workshops with participating artists.
In October 2012, Edge of Arabia will produce another exhibition of contemporary Saudi art in the heart of creative East London, before embarking on a tour of the United States from 2013.
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.