Art Dubai Group: The Driving Power Behind Dubai’s Creative Sector
Have a deep look into the group behind the initiatives that shape our cultural landscape
Initiatives spearheaded by the Art Dubai Group continue to shape the cultural landscape of the city and are at the forefront of innovative ways the creative sector can continue to grow.
Since 2007, Art Dubai and its related Art Week have been a moment each March when the international art world gathers in Dubai.
Galvanised by the opportunity of having such a diverse, global and significant audience, the creative sector across the city would, each spring, put on their strongest presentations.
Accompanying the impressive offerings would be discursive forums where fresh ideas could be debated, and audiences (including artists, collectors, patrons, members of the media, arts professionals, academics and more) could be inspired to develop.
What followed were acquisitions by leading institutions worldwide, newly discovered artists becoming represented by galleries, international committees formed to further expand awareness of art being produced in Dubai and the wider region. All these factors are part of what creates a sustainable creative economy.
Visitors of Art Dubai while touring the exhibiton (2017)Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Since 2013, November has been the time in the year when design is celebrated across the city. It is when the international design community turns its head to look at Dubai and its many achievements in the sector.
The first editions of Downtown Design took place in Downtown before the creation of Dubai Design District (d3). With the launch of Dubai Design Week in 2015, activities have expanded exponentially.
The Global Grad Show is owned and managed by the Art Dubai Group. By connecting universities with industry professionals it bridges the gap between innovative ideas in the fields of design, technology and science and the actual creation and dispersal of usable products.
Dubai Design Week in November 2020 was the first event to happen physically in the city since lockdown and was a significant success. Through careful planning, the festival managed to adapt quickly and maintain necessary safety precautions. Its organizers managed to present as diverse and compelling an array of exhibitions, presentations and displays as it had done in its previous five editions.
The fourteenth edition of Art Dubai in March 2021 will be the first major international art fair in 2021 and one of the first art events taking place globally since the pandemic began. With 85 galleries from 36 countries the fair retains its scale.
The innovative programme which has been specifically designed with the current moment in mind, like Dubai Design Week did so effectively, will maximise outdoor experiences across the city. With a new artist-led programme including site-specific installations and live performances, the event will offer fresh ways of safely interacting and connecting.
By partnering with creative institutions across the UAE this edition of Art Dubai promises to be a vital moment for the creative industries in the country as a whole as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Such pivotal events are understood by many to be at the nucleus of the art and design worlds – not just for spurring commercial exchanges but for networking, educating and building for the future.
Art Dubai Contemporary (2017)Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
What is important is to ensure that creatives are able to create, that they have the tools to continue their artistic journeys unhindered.
To foster innovation, support entrepreneurial ventures and provide a platform so that talents are incubated and showcased. The varied activities of the Art Dubai Group are fundamental in ensuring that the creative sector in Dubai continues to flourish.
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