Dubai launches initiative to promote artworks that convey the spirit of the emirate

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) announced the launch of the Dubai Collection, an innovative initiative to collect, promote and exhibit artworks that convey the spirit of the emirate.

Developed with the aim of enriching Dubai’s artistic landscape, documenting its history and consolidating its position as a global cultural hub, the Dubai Collection will bring together key stakeholders in the sector to create a unique platform for developing the emirate’s art community and its creative economy.

Hub for creativity

Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), expressed her deep appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed  for his role in supporting the cultural sector and encouraging artists.

“At Dubai Culture, we are eager to realise the vision of Sheikh Mohammed by launching initiatives that genuinely empower the local cultural community and contribute to reinforcing Dubai’s ambition to be a leading global creative hub and cultural destination,” said Her Highness. “The Dubai Collection is a tangible step in that direction, reaffirming our commitment to helping artists, designers, and creatives of all types to actualise their aspirations in Dubai.”

Sheikha Latifa also thanked Sheikh Mohammed for extending his patronage and lending his personal private collection to the initiative. Her Highness noted that the generous gesture will encourage the community to contribute towards creating this unique collection of artworks and invite active, positive engagement from individuals and institutions alike.

First initiative of its kind

The first initiative of its kind, Dubai Collection, which was developed in collaboration between Dubai Culture and Art Dubai, features an innovative system for sourcing, managing and governing the emirate’s art collection. Public and private entities, as well as individuals are invited to contribute to the Dubai Collection by either acquiring artworks for loaning to the collection or lending artworks from their own collections. Contributors will be recognised as ‘patrons’ and maintain full ownership of their loaned artworks.

By encouraging patrons to display art loaned by them to the Dubai Collection at publicly accessible venues, the initiative seeks to transform the emirate into a city-wide museum and bring the community closer to art and artists. Patrons are also invited to lend their artworks to the Dubai Collection to be displayed at curated temporary exhibitions both in Dubai and across the world.

Operating under the auspices of the government, the Dubai Collection will be implemented in partnership with the private sector and individual collectors. Featuring some of the finest modern and contemporary art bearing a connection to Dubai, the Collection will highlight the emirate’s heritage and its progressive, cosmopolitan spirit.

The initiative aims to nurture the development of both emerging and professional artists. Furthermore, it seeks to provide them with sustainable streams of remuneration for their creative work. The programme will connect promising artists with sponsors and creative professionals and build a network of talent both within the country and around the world. It will also feature a year-round publicity campaign to promote the work of UAE artists and the galleries that exhibit them.

The Dubai Collection will be governed by a Steering Committee chaired by Sheikha Latifa who will be tasked with ensuring the Dubai Collection’s activities are aligned with its goals and maintain the highest international standards.

The initiative – which was approved as part of the cultural vision launched by His Highness - will support the growth of the emirate's creative sector by providing an infrastructure that stimulates the arts industry, encourages and fosters creative talent, and attracts art patrons. Furthermore, the Dubai Collection will build a comprehensive database of artworks, artists and art collectors that will help sustain a vibrant creative ecosystem in the emirate.