Art Dubai expands horizons keeping bigger picture in sight

Dubai: The contemporary arts scene in Dubai, and indeed the UAE, is expanding and gaining in significance. One indicator of this is the popularity of contemporary arts fair Art Dubai, now in its fourth year.

Far from just being a place where collectors convene to buy artwork, the fair has expanded its non-commercial activities as a way of encouraging the next generation of artists.

"If you're not doing it, then take your children… because they might get inspired," John Martin, director of the fair, told Gulf News.

Part of this is the children's and students' education programme that runs alongside the fair.

START — the non-profit arts programme that has worked with underprivileged children in Palestine and Jordan — also has a presence at Art Dubai.

"Those students and kids doing START [workshops] now are our audience of tomorrow. They'll be the picture-buyers, the artists, the curators, the museum directors," Martin said.

Eye on the future

In order to make the fair successful, Martin continued, there has been a realisation that at least half of the efforts should be placed on non-commercial activities, to continue building up an audience, as "we have to look after our future audience… it's involvement, you've got to get people participating."

With the number of galleries now successfully running in Dubai and the region, the arts community and audience in the UAE is growing… there's an "amazing appetite" for art and specifically contemporary art," Martin elaborated.

External visitors are also seeing the visible potential of the UAE in terms of the arts, both culturally and economically.

This is something that's also at the forefront of the art fair's agenda — giving back to the UAE in terms of the economy and the future of the country as a cultural hub in the region.

"It's important that the arts can show they're paving their way economically as well as enriching the quality of people's lives in the UAE," Martin said, stressing that this will make it easier in the future for the fair to gain funding and sponsorship.

Art Dubai also includes a Global Art Forum, bringing together an arts audience, curators, collectors and sellers under one umbrella to discuss pertinent topics.

Opportunity for dialogue

Such topics for the 2009 Forum included the history of curating, contemporary culture and living traditions, cultural diplomacy and cultural strategies for the Arab world.

This, Martin said, was an opportunity for dialogue that also encouraged the exchange of ideas and will be returning for the 2010 fair.

Another aspect of the fair is the Abraaj Capital Art Prize, aimed at empowering the potential of, and providing resources for, under-represented contemporary artists. The prize doesn't reward bodies of work; rather it rewards proposals while also encouraging collaboration between international curators and artists from the region.

The total prize is worth $1 million (Dh3.6 million).

Next year's art fair has taken on a slightly different structure, with galleries formed around winding passageways, rather than being constructed in rigid criss-crossing booths. Galleries are also being encouraged to display solo artists' shows, so visitors have the opportunity of remembering more of what they see and like.

So who is Art Dubai for? "Anyone inspired by visual arts, inspired by new ideas. I think that contemporary art in the region is there for them and anyone can change the course of that," Martin said. "The opportunity is there for everyone — there are no special requirements or entry qualifications."

Art Dubai: Brush up your facts