Dubai: An artistic celebration aimed at developing the art scene in the UAE and engaging residents with artworks brought from all over the world will take place in March for an entire week and will include a broad programme of events as part of Art Week.
In order to appeal to a variety of art enthusiasts and get other residents to join a celebration of art, design and culture, a number of exhibitions, programmes and events will take place across the UAE. Among these is the popular global fair, Art Dubai — which will include 92 modern and contemporary galleries from 40 countries in its ninth edition this year, and Design days, a diverse collectible design fair with 44 exhibitors from 20 countries.
This was announced yesterday at a press conference that unveiled a line-up of public events taking place alongside the two big exhibitions.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with Dubai Culture and Abraaj Group, Art Dubai will take place from March 18 to 21 at Madinat Jumeirah. It will feature an extensive not-for-profit events, among them a Global Art Forum and Shaikha Manal Little Artists Programme for children and teenagers.
Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai, spoke about the importance of developing the local art scene and how Art Dubai has played a big role in this expansion since it first opened in 2007.
“This is going to be the biggest fair to date for us and the most global fair in the world in terms of the countries represented in the gallery ranging from modern to contemporary ones,” said Carver. “The development of Art Dubai has gone hand in hand in the development of the art scene here, and we believe that we should continue encouraging this growth and getting more people interested in arts.”
Lubna Ahmad Al Shamsi, of Dubai Culture, said that all the events falling under the second Dubai Art Season 2015 by Dubai Culture — which will begin with Art Week, supported by Emaar Properties — are meant to cater to different categories of people in the UAE “within the field of art, design, and culture”.
“Whether art lovers or regular residents, these initiatives are meant to engage everyone in arts and increase their appetite for arts during this whole week of transformation.”
SIKKA Art Fair, she said, will be held from March 14 to 24 at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and will present an entirely commissioned visual arts programme by emerging Emirati and UAE-based artists.
Design Days, on the other hand, will welcome the largest and most diverse exhibitors list this year with contemporary creations.
Large-scale sculptures and conceptual installations will be among the highlights of the fair, which will take place from March 16 to 20 next to Burj Khalifa.
There will be free entry on the last day of Art Dubai and Design Days.
To view the whole list of events and programmes during Art Week, residents can visit artweek.ae
