Dubai’s Public Art Strategy, which aims to transform the emirate into an open, global art gallery that provides exceptional artistic experiences that enhance visual culture and the spirit of innovation and contributes to enriching the region’s cultural and artistic scene while supporting Dubai’s creative economy, has begun implementation by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
This is in line with the goal set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the best city in the world by 2026, consolidating its position on the cultural map of the world and making it the capital of the global creative economy.
H.H. Sheik Hamdan container Mohammed receptacle Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Ruler of Dubai and Administrator of Dubai Leader Committee, supported the Public Craftsmanship Procedure last year in January, and Dubai Culture, headed by H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed receptacle Rashid Al Maktoum, Executive of Dubai Culture and Individual from the Dubai Board, drives a rousing imaginative development in accordance with Dubai’s social vision to solidify the emirate’s situation as a worldwide place for culture, a hatchery for inventiveness and a flourishing center for ability.
This action demonstrates Dubai Culture’s determination to collaborate with a variety of institutions and stakeholders to transform Dubai’s public areas, neighborhoods, and streets into touristic and cultural hotspots and to give creatives more power.
The Authority wants to bring art, sculptures, paintings, murals, and art installations that reflect Dubai’s creative identity and create an interactive social space for artists and the public to interact in Dubai’s public spaces. In accordance with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double Dubai’s GDP by 2033, this makes art more accessible and creates a sustainable creative environment.
Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture, emphasized the significance of achieving the goals of the Public Art Strategy, which contributes to the growth of Dubai’s art scene and offers it unique and inspiring experiences.
“The ability of this strategy to create a one-of-a-kind cultural and artistic environment within Dubai is what makes it important. She added, “The strategy reflects Dubai’s identity and the richness of its art scene, in addition to its role in supporting cultural tourism and making it a key source of the creative economy.”
“Expanding public art is part of Dubai’s vision to become an incubator for creatives from all over the world, promote the spirit of cultural innovation, and raise the level of artistic and visual taste in the city,” Badri continued.
According to Badri, the Authority’s support for creatives and private sector institutions can be seen in the activation of the Public Art Strategy.
We hope to strengthen our partnerships with the private sector, support Dubai’s creative economy, and cultivate a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship through this strategy. We want to make Dubai a global icon and a unique model for cities of the future by building bridges of cooperation, giving artists more power, and increasing their presence on the art scene.
The Authority collaborated with Art Dubai, Tashkeel, Alserkal, Art Jameel, and Akaas Visual Arts to empower the creative community in order to ensure the success of the Public Art Strategy. These organizations, in turn, will issue open calls to all artists, giving them the opportunity to participate in the presentation of a series of one-of-a-kind, site-specific art installations.
The Authority announced in this section that it has completed the process of defining the strategy’s road map for the distribution of the installations throughout the emirate. Additionally, the Authority is launching, in partnership with Art Dubai, the AED 2 million inaugural commission and an open call to all Emirati and UAE-based artists, designers, and architects to submit their suggestions, ideas, and artistic designs for the first large-scale site-specific installation that will be installed in Al Hudaiba, one of Dubai’s most beautiful public gardens
“In line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, which aims to make Dubai the global capital of the creative economy and increase the cultural and creative industries’ contribution to the national GDP to 5% by 2026, Dubai Public Art is part of a strategic approach that will foster the growth and sustainability of the city’s cultural ecosystem and creative economy,” stated Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of Arts & Literature at Dubai Culture. Dubai’s rapidly expanding cultural landscape will be promoted by the display of new artistic masterpieces in key locations. This will celebrate our heritage.
“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the creative sector,” said bin Kharbash. “Given their decade-and-a-half of expertise in delivering some of Dubai’s largest and most successful cultural moments, we are proud to collaborate with Art Dubai as an institutional partner for this new landmark commission.”
In collaboration with Art Dubai, the Authority will oversee the selection procedure and production for this first commission. Special Advisor to Dubai Public Art, Carlo Rizzo; Maryam Mohammed Mudhaffar, Project Manager at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority’s Museums Department; The members of an expert committee that will evaluate the submissions and select the winning proposal are Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai.
By 23:59 UAE time on February 13, 2023, all preliminary submissions must be received. Each of the shortlisted artists will receive a fee of US$5,000 to create a detailed proposal as well as a prototype or maquette of their works during the 16th edition of Art Dubai, which takes place from 1 to 5 March. The winning landmark piece will be revealed in full in late 2023.
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to improve the quality of life, increase the emirate’s global competitiveness over the next twenty years, and establish Dubai as the world’s best city to live, work, and visit, incorporates the goals of the Public Art Strategy.
