Art Dubai

Art Dubai is a leading international art fair that takes place every March in Dubai. Founded in 2007, Art Dubai is the preeminent platform to see art from the Middle East and North Africa. Each year, the fair features a globally diverse lineup of over 90 galleries from more than 40 different countries, from household names to emerging art spaces. Art Dubai is one of the major events on the international arts calendar, attracting over 28,000 visitors in 2017, including UAE-based, regional and international collectors, curators, patrons and nearly 100 visiting museums and institutions. Alongside its gallery halls, Art Dubai’s programming includes commissioned artists’ and curators’ projects, residencies, an annual exhibition of works by winners of the Abraaj Group Art Prize and the Global Art Forum.

Art Dubai is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Art Dubai is held in partnership with The Abraaj Group and is sponsored by Julius Baer, Meraas and Piaget. Madinat Jumeirah is home to the event. The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (DCAA) is a strategic partner of Art Dubai and supports the fair’s year-round non-for-profit education programme.

Background

Art Dubai, originally called the Gulf Art Fair, was founded in 2007 by gallerist John Martin and former financier Benedict Floyd. It is part of the Art Dubai Group FZ LLC, which is part-owned by Middle East Fairs and the Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC).[1][2] The fair was directed by John Martin from 2007 until 2010, when Bidoun Projects director Antonia Carver succeeded the position as Fair Director.[3] Carver directed Art Dubai for six years until April 2016. Arts writer, editor and consultant Myrna Ayad was appointed the new Fair Director of Art Dubai in May 2016 and is currently leading the fair into its 12th edition, which will take place March 21–24, 2018.[4]

Galleries

Art Dubai Contemporary

Art Dubai’s gallery halls are split into two main sections: Contemporary and Modern. Art Dubai Contemporary features commercial galleries operating on the primary market that have been established for at least two years.[5] Around 70 galleries are selected every year for Art Dubai Contemporary, from established galleries to younger art spaces from under-represented art capitals. Likewise, exhibited artists range from emerging practitioners to industry heavyweights.[6] The works presented at the fair cover painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, photography and performance. Since the fair's 2017 edition, the Contemporary halls have been further split into two sections: Solo (one or two-artist presentations) and Collective (multi-artist presentations). The split into two sections allowed a more tightly curated presentation in the gallery halls. In 2017, Art Dubai Contemporary included 79 galleries from 41 countries.

Art Dubai Contemporary’s Selection Committee includes Co-Director of Victoria Miro Gallery (London/Venice) Glenn Scott Wright, Isabelle van den Eynde (Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Dubai), Andrée Sfeir-Semler (Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Hamburg/Beirut) and Ursula Krinzinger (Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna).

Art Dubai Modern

Art Dubai Modern is devoted to Modern art from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Each exhibitor presents a solo or two-person show, featuring works by Modern masters of the 20th century, with a focus on work produced between the 1940s and 1980s.[7] In 2017, Art Dubai Modern featured 15 galleries from 12 countries.

Residency and Commissions

Art Dubai’s annual non-for-profit programming includes site-specific commissioned projects and artists’ residencies, aimed at supporting emerging and mid-career artists’ and curators’ practices.[8]

Artists-in-Residence (A.i.R.) Dubai

Since 2011, Art Dubai has partnered with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Tashkeel on Artists-in-Residence (A.i.R) Dubai, an annual residency programme for emerging international and UAE-based artists. Participating artists produce works shown onsite at the fair, and take part in a series of artists’ talks, workshops and open studios during their three-month residency in Dubai.[9] A.i.R Dubai 2017 includes Shaikha Al Mazrou, Chafa Ghaddar and Zeinab Alhashemi and is curated by Amanda Abi Khalil.

Art Dubai Commissions

Art Dubai Commissions offers mid-career artists the opportunity to develop new site-specific works for the grounds of the fair. In 2017, Art Dubai Commissions focused solely on performance art for the first time. Curated by Yasmina Reggad, the programme included Manuel Pelmuş, Lana Fahmi, Eglé Budvytytė, Iván Argote and Pauline Bastard.

Education

Art Dubai’s non-for-profit educational programming, provides programmes for children through to post-graduates. Art Dubai’s education initiatives include Campus Art Dubai, a community art school for UAE-based artists, curators, writers, designers and enthusiasts, Forum Fellows, a fellowship that brings together young curators and writers from the Middle East; and The Sheikha Manal Little Artist Program for children aged 5 to 17. The fair also has an internship and volunteer programme.[10]

The Abraaj Group Art Prize

Established by The Abraaj Group to support contemporary artists of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, the Abraaj Group Art Prize invites artists to apply with a proposal for a new, unrealised work that is revealed in March every year at Art Dubai.[11] One winning artist is awarded a $100,000 prize to create a major new commission and three shortlisted artists are awarded a cash prize of $10,000 to showcase work alongside the winning commission in the Abraaj Group Art Prize exhibition at the fair.[12]

The Abraaj Group Art Prize ranks among the world’s highest art prizes,[13] which include the Whitney Museum’s $100,000 Bucksbaum Award, the Guggenheim Museum’s $100,000 Hugo Boss Prize and the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation’s $200,000 ArtPrize.

The Global Art Forum

The Global Art Forum is the largest annual arts conference in the Middle East and Asia and takes place every year at Art Dubai.[14] The conference features live talks, panel discussions and performances by regional and international thought leaders, artists, curators and writers.[15] In 2017, the Global Art Forum was co-directed by Antonia Carver and Oscar Guardiola-Rivera with Commissioner Shumon Basar and held under the theme 'Trading Places', focusing on the trade of goods and ideas that shape and reshape the world.

Economic Impact

In March 2016, the fairs’ parent company, Art Dubai Fair FZ LLC (The Art Dubai Group), released the results of an independent survey for Art Week 2015 (March 18–25, 2015). The results show that the total economic impact the Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai events have on the local economy and service sector totaled US $35 million across seven days.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "ArtAsiaPacific: Difc Gulf Art Fair". artasiapacific.com. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  2. ↑ Roux, Caroline (2016-03-11). "UK banker who moved to Dubai and founded its leading art fair". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  3. ↑ Villarreal, Ignacio. "Art Dubai Appoints Antonia Carver as Its New Fair Director". artdaily.com. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  4. ↑ Rivetti, Ermanno (April 25, 2016). "Myrna Ayad appointed new director of Art Dubai". The Art Newspaper.
  5. ↑ "Art Dubai 2016". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  6. ↑ "Art Dubai: calm and collected-Telegraph". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  7. ↑ Review, By Jyoti Kalsi, Special to Weekend (2016-03-09). "Art Dubai continues its cultural journey". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  8. ↑ "Your guide to Art Dubai 2015 | The National". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  9. ↑ "Art Dubai A.i.R. programme underway | The National". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  10. ↑ "Art Dubai 2016: All Roads Connect". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  11. ↑ "Palestinian Duo Basel and Ruanne Win 2016 Abraaj Art Prize | Artinfo". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  12. ↑ "Abraaj Group Art Prize Announces 2016 Winning Artists | ARTnews". www.artnews.com. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  13. ↑ "The Contemporary Austin Launches $100,000 Art Prize". 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  14. ↑ "Vernacular Curatorial Practice in the United Arab Emirates". 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  15. ↑ "Buro 24/7 Middle East's complete guide to Art Dubai". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  16. ↑ team, By the GN Focus (2016-03-01). "Art Week paints Dubai green with Dh128 million economic contribution". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  17. ↑ "Art Dubai said to contribute $35m to local economy". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  18. ↑ "Dubai fair showcases success in art in 10th year". Retrieved 2016-08-14.
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