Art Dubai: Abraaj Group Art Prize gets a makeover

The Abraaj Group announce a new award offering five international scholarships as well as major changes to the annual art prize

A handout photo of Iman Issa's Common Elements,2013, variable, Abraaj Group Art Prize 2013 (Courtesy: Art Dubai)

As of next year, the annual Abraaj Group Art Prize, which usually awards five artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia with the chance to work with a curator over six months and produce a piece of art that is displayed at Art Dubai, will have only one winner.

Fred Sicre, partner at Abraaj Group, made the announcement this morning as part of the Art Dubai press conference.

In addition, the private equity investment firm will be launching the Abraaj Group Innovation Award, a two-year postgraduate opportunity at the Royal College of Arts in London for five scholars.

“Through this scholarship these artists can study in any field they are active in,” he explains. “This is a way for us to carry the theme of empowering potential in the arts into many different markets and giving opportunities to artists to boost their careers.”

The changes to the Abraaj Group Art Prize are in line with making it more “competitive”, Sicre continued as well as revealing that the curator will be assembling a principle body of work from the artist so that they can be exhibited within the fair in a larger capacity.

Meanwhile, the five winners of this year’s prize can be seen at Art Dubai, which opens to the public tomorrow at 4pm.

* More details can be found at: www.artdubai.ae