There’s no denying that over the last few years, the Middle East’s ever-growing effort to become a major centre of the international art scene has been paying off, and at its forefront is an expanding group of young people championing the arts and helping to turn it into the eclectic hub it has become today. In recognition of this talent, Louvre Abu Dhabi and luxury Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille have launched of a new annual exhibition, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here, alongside The Richard Mille Art Prize which will aim to promote the best of contemporary art. For its inaugural year, the exhibition and prize will shine a spotlight on Emirati and UAE-based artists as part of the UAE’s wider 50-year Jubilee celebrations.
Serving as an annual platform to showcase contemporary artists working across a variety of media, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here will see up to six artists selected through an open call for proposals, with each exhibiting their work in the newly-created Forum at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. One lucky artist will be crowned winner of The Richard Mille Art Prize, and will also take home $50,000 as part of a ten-year commitment between the museum and Richard Mille.
© Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
“The announcement of the creation of The Richard Mille Art Prize and the Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here exhibition is the latest reminder that Abu Dhabi is accelerating its support and promotion of local creative talent, while simultaneously cementing its position as an attractive and inspiring destination for global creatives,” says HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. “We already know that world-class artists live among us. This new prize and accompanying exhibition will serve to spotlight the best of current UAE artistic talent in a year where our nation is both celebrating 50 years of achievement and looking forward to the next 50.”
Resonating with the context of the UAE’s Jubilee celebrations, this year’s theme is ‘Memory, Time and Territory’, allowing artists to reflect on the country’s legacy as a territory where questions of past, present and future combine and overlap. Think you’ve got what it takes? Click here for more information on how to apply.
INFO: Deadline for applications is August 31st 2021, with the exhibition taking place in November.
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- Words by Naomi Chadderton
