Mohammed Bin Rashid visits Art Dubai

DUBAI: Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum yesterday visited the Art Dubai exhibition. Featuring over 500 artists from over 40 countries and over 90 contemporary galleries, the renowned art show runs from 20-23 March at Madinat Jumeirah.

During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE’s values of openness and tolerance have made the country a home for artists and an incubator for talent and innovation, as well as raised Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most prominent hubs for creativity.

He expressed his happiness at the growing vitality of the UAE’s cultural environment. “Tolerance and openness have made the UAE a centre for artists from all over the world. We seek to foster the development of a vibrant cultural landscape in the country as part of our vision to create a bright future in all spheres of life. Dubai is steadily enhancing its position as a global hub for art by attracting talent and providing the best environment for them to grow and prosper. Our commitment to innovation comes from our firm belief that it is the cornerstone for building civilisations.”

Sheikh Mohammed toured the exhibition’s galleries and viewed the diverse artworks on display. He also talked to the artists about their works and listened to their presentations of their work.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his happiness at the vast number of local and international visitors attending the exhibition. He commended Art Dubai for organising the event, which gives local artists an opportunity to interact with international artists, enhance their skills and learn new techniques.

Director General of Dubai Protocol Department Khalifa Saeed Suleiman accompanied Sheikh Mohammed during his visit.

Art Dubai is owned and managed by Art Dubai Fair FZ LLC (The Art Dubai Group), a joint venture company between the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Middle East Fairs Ld.

For the past decade, the Art Dubai Group has played a key role in the Emirate’s journey towards becoming a leading global destination for arts and design through producing the highly successfully and internationally recognised annual art and design fairs and festivals – Art Dubai, Downtown Design, Art Week and Dubai Design Week. These collaborative ventures, showcase a broad programme of creative and cultural events and programming across Dubai, the UAE and  beyond. Together, these Art Dubai Group-run fairs and festivals help to shine the international spotlight on Dubai and position the city as an international destination of culture.

The Art Dubai Group also runs the most extensive non-commercial programme of any art or design fair worldwide through education and commissioning local designers and artists: To date, more than 6,000 people, including over 3,000 children, have taken part in its education programmes in art and design and over 130 artists and designers have received commissions, offering them the opportunity to exhibit their works at fairs and beyond. In addition, its thought-leadership programmes have promoted Dubai as a centre for knowledge and innovation in the creative industries in the Middle East.

By working with its key stakeholders, both government and corporate, The Art Dubai Group continues to be a key catalyst in the growth of Dubai’s creative industries.

Art Week highlights the broad programme of cultural events taking place across Dubai and beyond each March, offering residents and visitors alike a packed programme of fairs and festivals, one-off happenings, special performances and installations.

Spread over seven days, highlights include: the region’s leading art fair, Art Dubai; SIKKA Art Fair, held in the heart of Old Dubai; openings and special events in the city’s commercial gallery district of Alserkal Avenue, the newly-opened contemporary arts museum, Jameel Arts Centre, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the 16th Abu Dhabi Festival and the 14th Sharjah Biennial. Please visit our listings section above to find out what is happening day by day, city by city.

Launched by the Art Dubai Group, with support of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Art Week aims to demonstrate the dynamism and progressive spirit of the city’s thriving cultural scene.

WAM