Dubai opens call to UAE creatives for public art training programme

As part of the programme, artists will be guided by established public art practitioners on various aspects of the field

Union of Artists is the first large-scale installation under the Dubai Public Art initiative and was unveiled at the Al Hudaiba Public Park. Getty Images

Artists from the UAE are invited to apply for a new educational programme that will help develop their public art practice.

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has collaborated with Art Dubai to announce an open call for Emirati and other creatives from the UAE to apply for a seven-month public art programme with industry leaders.

“Public art is a distinctive hallmark of Dubai, showcasing its unique creative identity and the richness of its artistic landscape,” said Hala Badri, director general of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

“It underscores Dubai’s vibrant environment that nurtures talent and develops capabilities in the arts sector, which forms an essential pillar of cultural and creative industries.”

Badri added that the programme is part of Dubai's public art strategy, to make the city a global hub for the creative economy.

She also said that the new programme "will foster a culture of entrepreneurship", encouraging innovation among artists, and inspire them to express their experiences, ideas and visions through compelling art pieces. "It will also give them the opportunity to contribute to the landscape and enable them to leave a lasting legacy through artworks that have a public presence in the city, thereby enhancing cultural tourism within the emirate,” she added.

Under the theme Shaping the Future of Public Art in the UAE, the programme will be a comprehensive curriculum, which will include interactive seminars, workshops and hands-on sessions led by art-world professionals and industry leaders. Mentorship will be a key component of the programme, as part of which artists will be guided by established public art practitioners on how to navigate the art field.

The selected artists will learn about all facets of the process of creating public art proposals, while gaining practical skills in project management, fundraising and legal considerations for public art projects.

Alongside the core programme is the community education programme, which will include monthly programming featuring industry leaders and specialists, that will help artists with the creative process, commissioning and curating public art, as well as fostering community engagement.

Several public art installations have been created under the Dubai Public Art initiative.

The first large-scale installation, Union of Artists, was built at the Al Hudaiba Public Park earlier this year. The sculpture was developed by Emirati artists Afra Al Dhaheri, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Asma Belhamar, Khalid Al Banna and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.

Subsequent installations have included the mural I am still learning at Al Safa Art and Design Library by Lebanese artist Chafa Ghaddar and the large-scale interactive sculptural playground, I Dreamt of a City Everyone Calls Home, at Jameel Arts Centre by Theories of Imagination made up of artist-architect Noor Alwan and artist-designer Abdulla Buhijji.

All artists, designers and architects are invited to apply through Dubai Culture’s website with applications closing on February 10. Once artists are selected, the programme will commence on February 22.