EVALUATING ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AS CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Abstract

Through the last few years, Saudi Arabia has gone through immense social and institutional changes. With Vision 2030 programs on all aspects of Saudi life and infrastructures. Cultural institutions have their work cut out for them in implementing these changes. Among the goals is fostering an environment of cultural exchange in the kingdom. As cultural diplomacy takes a new shape in the kingdom, residency programs for artists are gaining more popularity, with many institutions offering them. This research attempts to measure the efficiency of one of these programs as a means of cultural exchange. Using cultural diplomacy theories in conjunction with evaluating the outcomes of the program on artists' careers and exhibition visitors. The first chapter of this research focuses on historical contexts and main events that shaped Saudi Arabian international policies and institutions. The second chapter focuses on artist support programs in the kingdom’s history and art movements in Saudi Arabia. The third and final chapter takes Misk Art Institute’s Masaha Residency as a case study, evaluating the program's incomes and outcomes, with three artists as a sample of evaluation.