Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the first hub in the Middle East and North Africa dedicated to New Media Arts, has officially opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established by the Saudi Museums Commission, part of the Ministry of Culture, DAF is an art, research, and education center driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of art, science, and technology.

Set in a 12,000 sqm iconic building designed by Italian architectural firm Schiattarella Associati, DAF is a unique amalgamation of school, laboratory, and exhibition space. By offering a platform for collaboration, speculation, and production, DAF aims to empower the next generation of artists, technologists, and scholars to navigate future challenges and redefine the boundaries of creativity together. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, the cutting-edge facility represents the intersection of the past, present, and future.

DAF has launched a groundbreaking exhibition titled Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts. Curated by Jérôme Neutres, the exhibition features the work of over 30 artists from around the world, mapping the evolution of computer art from its origins in the 1960s to today’s cutting-edge digital practices.