Dubai Culture joins hands with The Delfina Foundation for global artists-in-residence programme at Al Bastakiya
- Partnership with Tashkeel and Art Dubai; supported by the British Council
- Artists Abbas Akhavan and Tobias Collier to participate in eight-week residency programme and engage with three Emirati artists
- All five artists to separately create artworks to be displayed as part of Art Week at House 44 in Al Bastakiya
Dubai, UAE; February 14, 2011: The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has joined hands with The Delfina Foundation, Tashkeel and Art Dubai, with the support of the British Council, to host an artists-in-residence programme at Al Bastakiya.
The temporarily renovated 10-room plus courtyard building will be transformed into a live-and-work space for two international artists as part of The Delfina Foundation’s international artists residency programme in collaboration with Tashkeel.
Iranian-Canadian artist Abbas Akhavan and Tobias Collier from the UK are attending the eight-week residency programme, which commences on February 12, 2011, and engage with Emirati artists Hind Bin Demaithan, Shaikha Al Mazrou, and Shamma Al Amri.
The nature of the residency provides an opportunity for the artists to have a deeper connection with the city of Dubai and experience its culture first hand, thus allowing them to produce new work consisting of audio sculptures, performance, ephemera, and site-specific installations.
The five artists will independently create artforms including installations that span visual art and performance. While all artists have been commissioned to create new artworks for Al Bastakiya, Akhavan has additionally been commissioned to create a site-specific work for Art Dubai Projects, the fair’s not-for-profit artistic programme.
All the artworks will be displayed at House 44, which will open to the public for the Art Week from March 13 to 20 - the pinnacle of the UAE’s cultural calendar with the 10th Sharjah Biennale and the 5th edition of Art Dubai - and will celebrate the cultural perspective offered by Al Bastakiya and Dubai.
A series of events will take place around House 44’s public opening, including an exhibition of artworks from current and previous Delfina artists, as well as artist-talks and other programmes. Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Al Bastakiya is at the heart of Dubai’s cultural identity, and is a vibrant destination for artists from around the world to discuss and share ideas.
Tashkeel, who are a key partner in this programme, has already been a significant addition to the neighbourhood by establishing artists studios in House 10. With the Delfina residencies at House 44, we are continuing to build on the vision Al Bastakiya as an arts destination with local and international artists creating work that respond to the unique cultural history of the area.” Aaron Cezar, Director of Delfina Foundation said: “The core of this inventive initiative is to develop and strengthen artistic practice by providing career-defining opportunities for exchange, exposure and production, both for visiting artists and local artists.
This project embodies all that we, at Delfina Foundation and Dubai Culture aim to achieve as individual organisations; now through this partnership, and with the support of the British Council, we are able to create a very distinctive addition to the activities of Art Week and Art Dubai Projects. We are particularly excited about collaborating with Tashkeel, which is emerging as a leading cultural resource, not only for the UAE but internationally through its own ambitions to develop more international exchange via their creative hubs at Nad Al Sheba and Al Bastakiya.”
Born in Tehran, Akhavan has been living in Canada since 1992 where he obtained a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. His background in Art History and Visual Arts has taken his artistic practice through a variety of mediums including painting, installation, video/performance and site-specific work.
Tobias Collier graduated from Saint Martins School of Art in 1999 and currently lives and works in London. Collier’s work encompasses elements of sculpture, installation, drawing, performance and video, and his practice partly relies upon the translation of scientific research methodologies to the processes of art making.
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Note to Editors
About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority: The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) was launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture plays a critical part in achieving the vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 of establishing the city as vibrant, global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the world. The organisation has announced several initiatives that strengthen the historic and modern cultural fabric of Dubai. These include: Muhammad the Messenger Museum: The first project of its kind in the world to focus on and highlight the life and message of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him).
Bastakiya Art Fair: An annual art and culture event takes place in the houses of Al Bastakiya, one of the historic areas of Dubai. Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre: An annual festival that celebrates and fosters the art of theatre in the UAE. Dubai Next: To encourage and sponsor initiatives that contribute actively to the development of the cultural events and activities in Dubai. Recently, Dubai Culture showcased Dubai's aspirations in culture to an international audience at one of the world's most prestigious platforms, the Art Basel 39 art fair.
Gulf Film Festival: Dubai Culture recognises that a healthy film industry is necessary to take stories about Dubai's culture, traditions, history and contemporary lifestyle to the world.
Khor Dubai: A living museum that celebrates the multicultural diversity of Dubai. The Holy Lands: A collaboration with the unique and creatively rich Reiss Engelhorn Museen of Mannheim to bring an exclusive collection of never before exhibited rare photographs to the region and more specifically Dubai.
About The Delfina Foundation: Founded in 2007 in London, The Delfina Foundation (DF) facilitates cultural exchange through an interrelated series of artistic residencies and public programmes, promoting debate and dialogue around global issues. DF engages with artists and cultural practitioners directly through their programmes, as well as by forging international collaborations that extend beyond their geographical remit. Their current focus is the greater Middle East and North Africa. Over the last twenty-five years, the “Delfina” brand has become synonymous with artistic development. Renowned art patron Delfina Entrecanales established the organisation as the successor to her previous initiative, the Delfina Studio Trust, which held an unprecedented record in the international art world for nurturing and supporting over 400 artists.
About Tashkeel: Established in Dubai in January 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel is an independent resource for artists and designers and is committed to facilitating art and design practice, cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange. About Art Dubai: Art Dubai is a joint venture of the Dubai International Financial Centre and is held in partnership with Abraaj Capital and sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels. Madinat Jumeirah (www.jumeirah.com) is home to the event.
About The British Council: The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, working in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.
Log on to:
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority www.dubaiculture.ae
The Delfina Foundation www.delfinafoundation.com
Tashkeel www.tashkeel.org
Art Dubai www.artdubai.ae
The British Council www.britishcouncil.org/me
Tobias Collier www.tobiascollier.com
Abbas Akhavan www.abbasakhavan.com
For more information, please contact: Nivine William / Sara Hamam ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller +9714 3344550 n.william@asdaa.com, s.hamam@asdaa.com