Managed by Art Dubai Group, the grant aligns with the government’s efforts to position Dubai as a leading global hub for the creative economy. By supporting local artists and galleries, the initiative helps expand their international presence while reinforcing Dubai’s status as a thriving cultural center.

Strengthening Dubai’s Art Ecosystem

Through this initiative, Dubai Culture aims to:

• Enhance the city’s reputation as the region’s art capital.
• Encourage both emerging and established UAE-based and Emirati artists.
• Provide financial backing to galleries for international exposure.
• Drive growth in Dubai’s creative economy by attracting long-term commitments from galleries and artists.

Eligible galleries must meet the following criteria:

• Maintain a full-time presence in Dubai.
• Represent Emirati artists or those who have resided in the UAE for at least three years.
• Regularly showcase their programs beyond their gallery space, such as at institutions or art fairs.

Qualifying galleries can apply for up to 50% financial support for their booths at international art fairs, depending on the portion dedicated to Emirati or UAE-based artists.

Industry Leaders Welcome the Initiative

Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts, Design, and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, highlighted the grant’s significance, stating, “Dubai’s position as a global art hub is largely due to its vibrant art scene and thriving galleries. Through this grant, we aim to raise the international profiles of our galleries and artists, contributing to the global discourse on contemporary art and promoting Dubai as a center for artistic excellence.”

William Lawrie of Lawrie Shabibi Gallery also praised the initiative, emphasizing that it is a vital step in strengthening Dubai’s role in the international art scene. “This grant supports our participation in global art fairs and helps us showcase our artists on an international level,” he said.

As part of Dubai’s ongoing efforts to foster creativity and innovation, the grant ensures that the city remains a key player in the global art industry. By offering financial aid and international exposure, Dubai Culture continues to strengthen the local art community while reinforcing the emirate’s position as a dynamic and evolving cultural hub.

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Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, emphasised the significance of the Public Art Strategy and its role in achieving Dubai’s vision of becoming a global hub for the creative economy, saying: “Public art is a distinctive hallmark of Dubai, showcasing its unique creative identity and the richness of its artistic landscape. 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. The new programme will foster a culture of entrepreneurship, encourage innovation among artists, and inspire them to express their experiences, ideas, and visions through compelling art pieces, giving 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.”

Spanning seven months under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Public Art in the UAE’, the programme is a comprehensive curriculum comprising interactive seminars, workshops, and hands-on sessions led by renowned art-world professionals and industry leaders. Mentorship will be at the heart of the programme, with artists gaining guidance from established public art practitioners on how to navigate the intricacies of this dynamic field. Selected artists will learn the process of creating winning public art proposals and gain practical skills in project management, fundraising, and legal considerations for public art projects with the support of industry experts and mentors.

Alongside the Core Education Programme is the Community Education Programme, which will consist of monthly programming featuring industry leaders and specialists, offering insight into the creative process, commissioning and curating public art, and fostering community engagement. This programme part is open to all students, creative enthusiasts, and artists, fostering community interaction with Dubai’s Public Art Strategy which has already introduced several impactful projects. The first large-scale installation under the Dubai Public Art initiative, ‘Union of Artists’, was unveiled at the Al Hudaiba Public Park earlier this year. Subsequent installations included the mural ‘I am still learning’ at Al Safa Art and Design Library and the large-scale interactive sculptural playground ‘I Dreamt of a City Everyone Calls Home’ at Jameel Arts Centre.

The programme, set to commence on Saturday, 22 February 2025, provides artists with a platform to explore the realm of public art, building sector knowledge and offering invaluable visibility for artists to private and public sector stakeholders for commissioning opportunities.

Dubai Culture invites all artists, designers and architects to apply for the Core Education Programme via Dubai Culture’s website. Applications will close on Monday, 10 February 2025.

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Dubai Culture hopes to develop interconnected creative neighborhoods through this collaboration by giving interactive ways for creatives in local communities to have a digital presence and providing them with a platform to improve access and reach as well as assist them.

The collaboration and partnership agreement between Dubai Culture and Hayi aims to bring together creative talents from all parts of Dubai in order to give them the opportunity to present their work and deliver creative services. It will be done in three stages: the first will be the construction of a digital ‘Al Quoz Neighborhood’ on the app, which will allow artists to showcase their work, advertise their products, and share their performances in Al Quoz and other local neighborhoods. At this time, the app will also allow Dubai Culture to distribute all notifications and updates that it desires to share with the community.

This partnership stems from Dubai Culture’s commitment to support small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in Dubai’s creative community and facilitate the operation of their businesses, as well as provide an environment that stimulates their growth and prosperity, as one of the priorities of its strategic roadmap 2020–2026 to develop an attractive creative economy. It also arises from the Authority’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, which aims to make the emirate the global creative economy capital by 2025, as well as its mission to create a knowledge-based economy.

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The show covers the pilgrimage journey and the unique phenomena of the Hajj, which has long been a source of inspiration for Juma’s work, through ten inventive contemporary paintings: The mesmerizing sight of millions of worshippers circling the Kaaba like stars in a galaxy; the astrolabe that guides the faithful to Makkah for daily prayers; the magnetic draw of pilgrimage; and the way it preoccupies the ambitions of Muslims.

The exhibition will be held at Al-Safa Art and Design Library, according to Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of Dubai Culture’s arts and literature sector. This is part of Dubai Culture’s ongoing effort to activate its public libraries to host various activities that will contribute to making culture and creativity accessible to everyone and everywhere, stimulating active participation by society members, and supporting talents. In turn, they will contribute to the emirate’s cultural and artistic scene, as well as its position as a global center for culture, a creative incubator, and a vibrant talent hub, in keeping with the authority’s vision and strategic objectives.

Dubai Culture is dedicated to nurturing and maintaining citizens’ and residents’ creative talents, as well as enticing international talent in many disciplines of arts and culture to study, live, and work in Dubai, providing them with a rich platform for growth and prosperity. The goal is to help the emirate’s creative economy flourish and accomplish the goals set out in the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy.

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