A new 17,000-sq-m art and culture centre will open in north Jeddah in the spring of 2019, providing Saudi Arabia's creative community a new home.

Construction on the Hayy: Creative Hub started last year and details of the project were revealed yesterday by Art Jameel, an organisation that supports heritage, education and the arts.

The name Hayy is derived from the Arabic word for neighbourhood – referring to the community-oriented nature of the complex, and the ways in which the partner organisations, which include art galleries, digital entrepreneurs, comedy clubs, cafes and more, are working together to present the full diversity of the arts.

Art Jameel commissioned ibda design to draft Hayy: Creative Hub as a major destination for Jeddah’s cultural community, bringing together a range of cultural experiences in one neighbourhood. The three-storey, dynamic, contemporary complex features open internal courtyards surrounded by shaded terraces and walkways. Shared facilities include spaces for 12 cultural organisations, plus exhibition halls, a theatre, events spaces and artists’ studios.

Hayy: Creative Hub, developed and funded by Art Jameel, will act as an incubator for creatives and entrepreneurs; it will bring together and nurture Saudi Arabian artists, playwrights, photographers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and others, along with the enthusiastic audiences that support them.

Programming will include world-class local and international exhibitions of modern and contemporary art; a digital hub for upcoming Saudi Arabian producers and directors; a professional theatre plus performance spaces; and a rolling programme of educational events for all ages.

Fady Mohammed Jameel, President of Art Jameel, said: “We are delighted to support our home, Saudi Arabia, and its fast-growing cultural scene through the development of Hayy: Creative Hub, which is set to become a base for Saudi Arabian talent, and help nurture a new generation of creatives, in addition to providing job opportunities and training. The concept has been honed over many years: the team at Art Jameel has worked not only with the brilliant architects ibda design, but also a range of community partners to develop the Hub as a truly innovative destination. Hayy: Creative Hub reflects Art Jameel and Community Jameel’s commitment to supporting creativity and entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and beyond, and we look forward to opening the Hub in spring 2019 with our partners in this community-wide initiative.”

Art Jameel, which supports artists and creative communities, is also expected to open the Jameel Arts Centre, a contemporary arts institution in the UAE, in the coming year. Current initiatives include running heritage institutes and restoration programmes, plus a broad range of arts and educational initiatives for all ages. The organisation’s programmes foster the role of the arts in building open, connected communities.

Art Jameel’s model is collaborative: major institutional partners include the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.