Al-Muftaha Art Village, Abha, 2009 — Exterior view of the site that housed Ahmed Mater’s first studio and became a cornerstone of Saudi contemporary art.
Founded in 1989 in Abha by HRH Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, then Governor of the Asir region, Al-Miftaha Art Village stands as a pioneering cultural initiative in Saudi Arabia. Designed to foster artistic expression and community engagement, the village brought together studios, galleries, a public theatre, artisan shops, and a mosque, all within a unique architectural setting inspired by traditional Asiri design.
“For me, MUFTAHA was more than a place — it was a formative space where I encountered the transformative power of art. As a young medical student drawn to creative expression, I found in Al Muftaha Art Village the freedom to explore, experiment, and learn. It was there, among the studios of pioneering Arab artists such as Abdulhalim Radwi and Hassan Obaid, that I established my first studio and took my earliest steps into the world of contemporary art.
The village played a crucial role in shaping my artistic voice. It offered not just tools and space, but a living dialogue between heritage and modernity, tradition and experimentation. Al Muftaha Art Village remains a reference point in my journey, reminding me of the importance of community, of the roots of artistic identity, and of the role art can play in cultural transformation.”
— Ahmed Mater
The centre was opened to encourage cultural engagement and development in Aseer. The artists' community at Al-Miftaha Arts Village was the home of Ahmed's first studio and earliest creative experimentations, learning from pioneering Arab artists, including Abdulhalim Radwi and Hassan Obaid
