Maya Al Athel

Maya Al Athel is a Saudi Arabian curator and cultural entrepreneur with eight years of experience working on several public sector cultural projects. With the belief that culture plays a transformative role in creating meaningful connections and fostering deeper understanding, Al Athel set up Almanac Collective—a cultural programming consultancy that offers new and established organizations in Saudi Arabia a myriad of services that allows for the conceptualization, development, and execution of curated cultural programs.

Prior to founding Almanac Collective, Al Athel was the Artistic Manager of Noor Riyadh—the largest Light Art Festival in the World. She assisted in the establishment of several governmental organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was a founding member of the General Entertainment Authority. Al Athel has also supported the establishment of the Visual Arts Council at the General Culture Authority, guided the Visitor Experience Unit at the Ministry of Tourism, and headed cultural diplomacy at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC.

Al Athel has gained valuable experience working within world-renowned arts and cultural institutions such as Christie’s, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Saatchi Gallery. Al Athel holds an master’s in Innovation Management and Curation from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and a master’s in Anthropology from University College London.