Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Culture, and the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), jointly launched on Wednesday the “Race Through Art” competition, in association with Formula 1.

Aimed exclusively at Saudi nationals, artists could have their inspiring artwork displayed on the newest street circuit in F1 — the Jeddah Corniche Circuit — when the pinnacle of motorsport arrives in Jeddah on the weekend of Dec. 3-5 this year.

The aim of the competition is to provide a platform for homegrown, creative Saudi talent to showcase their work during the biggest sporting event to be staged in the country this December.

The competition is open to all Saudi nationals over the age of 18, living anywhere in the world — including professional and amateur artists — who want to use the opportunity of the inaugural F1 race in the Kingdom to present their unique vision of this historic sporting occasion to the world.

The three winning entries will see their artwork displayed on one of the three run-off areas each on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit — soon to be the longest and fastest street circuit in the world.

In addition to having their work exhibited to a global audience of millions, the three winners will also collect a cash prize of SR50,000, SR25,000 and SR10,000 respectively.

As part of the terms of the competition, all applicants are asked to engage with the unique culture and history of Saudi Arabia as a host country as well as the Formula 1 WeRaceAsOne initiative, which focuses on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community, when creating their entries — with an impetus on demonstrating originality and creativity throughout their work.

Speaking about the competition, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), said: “As we get closer to our inaugural Formula 1 race weekend in Saudi Arabia, the excitement continues to grow.”

“This wonderful and inspiring competition is another fantastic example of how the arrival of F1 can inspire a generation of Saudi men and women to positively engage with this historic event and to present our country and race weekend in the most confident light.”

“We actively urge our nation’s visual artists — amateur or professional, old or young — to enter this competition and present their own singular take on what the occasion of F1 racing in Saudi Arabia means to the country as a whole,” he added.