The Cultural Office supports Local Talent at Art Dubai for Second Consecutive Year

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The Cultural Office supports Local Talent at Art Dubai for Second Consecutive Year

The Cultural Office (TCO) of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is presenting its artistic vision at Art Dubai for the second consecutive year, showcasing its program portfolio which serves to support the development of young emerging artists in the UAE. Art Dubai runs from 18 to 21 March, 2015 at Madinat Jumeirah.

Forming the centrepiece of the TCO booth at the prestigious art fair is a 3D acrylic and paint installation entitled Beyond Measure. The installation plays on the notion of the immeasurable using clouds as a symbol, and has been created by UAE-based artist Gary Yong.

Visitors will also be able to find out more about TCOs inspiring programs that are aimed at nurturing local artistic talent, including The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award, The Sheikha Manal Little Artists Programme and TCOs flagship Sheikha Manal Art Exchange Program, which is scheduled to host an exhibition of works inspired by their visit to Hong Kong in late-March 2015 at the open-air BOXPARK venue.

Commenting on TCOs second outing at Art Dubai, Mona Bin Kalli, Director of The Cultural Office said, "Our presence at Art Dubai last year proved to be incredibly beneficial in terms of reaching out to new audiences and raising international appreciation for the UAEs vibrant and growing art scene. Under the wise directive of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Culture Office this year expects to further solidify relationships with invested audiences who can help discover new talent coming out of our local artist community.

Bin Kalli continued, "Partnering with a locally grown and globally recognised platform such as Art Dubai underscores the strong commitment of the UAEs wise leaders to create a culture that encourages artistic exploration and creative expression in order to build a thriving local artist community.

TCOs The Sheikha Manal Little Artists Program is also running an interesting series of activities at Art Dubai this year, cementing its partnership with the event for the third consecutive year. The agenda also included artist-led workshops for grades 1-7 at two Dubai schools in the lead up to Art Dubai. The workshops are being led by Colombian artist Nicols Paris who is also creating a series of workshops at Art Dubai entitled Unlearning, which sees children and teenagers (aged 5 -17) encouraged to tap into their imaginations via performance, drawing, poetry and conceptual art.

Parents can sign-up online at artdubai.ae to gain a place in the workshops, and also at the Discovery Tours of the fair. The Discovery Tours enable young people to discover the fair, with the works brought alive via maps and the story-telling of the guides. This year, the Discovery Tours are for ages 5-7, 8-12, and 13-17, and will be led by UAE-based art practitioners.