Two young artists stand in front of their displayed work.

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff reporter

Collage Talent Centre at Sharjah Ladies Club is encouraging female artists and photographers from all around the UAE to showcase their photographs, paintings and digital artworks at the third edition of its Noon Arts Award themed “After the Rain.”

Rain has the power to bring about strong emotions with its idea of regeneration and potential for giving birth to new life and stories. Therefore, creative participants are expected to illustrate the induced feelings after a spell of rainfall.

The award is an opportunity for the UAE’s most creative talents aged from 18 to 40 to interpret and express their deep emotions and memories of rain. Registration opened on July 8 for all UAE female nationals and residents and will remain so until Sept.

The winners of the painting and photography Noon Artist Award for participants aged between 25 and 40 will each receive Dhs10,000.  Noon Rising Star participants of painting and photography for the 18 to 24 age group will be presented with Dhs5,000 each.

The third edition of  the Award  has introduced a new segment devoted to digital art which will be a great opportunity for those who are interested. SLC has included this in line with its objective to give artists practising different forms of art a chance to showcase their talents. The submitted artwork may be manipulated digitally as per the artist’s requirements.

Any artist between the ages of 18 to 40 is qualified to participate in this segment. The winner of the best digital artist award will receive Dhs4,000. The winning entries selected by an independent SLC jury, will be displayed from Nov 18 to 21, at Kunooz Events and Catering.

Shaikha Al Suwaidi, Collage Talent Centre Manager, said, “The third edition of the Noon Arts Award builds upon the enormous popularity and success of past year’s editions. We are confident that the quality of the submissions will surpass the previous editions which displayed the outstanding artistic ability of the participating members of the community. This year’s concept of expressing the emotions evoked by rain is open to various interpretations and we expect to see some truly inspirational entries.”

She added, “We believe in offering every opportunity to girls and women so they can express themselves creatively, discover hidden talent, nurture their hobbies and realise their truest potential. The Noon Arts Award is one of these opportunities. We urge all women artists and photographers in the UAE to participate in the competition. It could be their ticket to fame.”