Last night, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) hosted a welcome reception for regional galleries and artists to showcase the art installations currently on view at The Gate, including works by Dubai-based artist Patricia Millns, Conrad Shawcross, Parviz Tanavoli, Khaled Ben Slimane, Patrizio Travagli, Sophie Ernst, Lara Baladi, Nadim Karam and Simon Hitchens.
'The DIFC Gulf Art Fair is intended to establish Dubai as a centre for art commerce, we look to contribute to the cultural life of the emirate, the UAE, the Gulf region and the wider Middle East. As a centre for the global art trade, Dubai will also attract young artists from across the region, and encourage the development of those who already call this land their home. Artists from this region will no longer feel the need to seek a future for their talents outside its borders, and will instead be able to contribute to the flourishing of the cultural life of their homeland from their native soil,' said His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor, DIFC.
'Today, the DIFC is home to a broad range of regional and global financial institutions. Tomorrow, the centre will be a hub for regional and international contemporary art - and art commerce. We are also moving forward with the expansion of the DIFC District, which itself was created with many artistic features in its architectural design. It has also been specifically designed to publicly display works of art,' he added.
The DIFC Gulf Art Fair officially opens today with an exclusive Patrons' Preview, and includes a three-day Global Art Forum and education programme to foster debate and increase awareness about trends in collecting art. A number of the world's leading artists, curators, art professionals, and collectors are confirmed to take part.
Public access to the DIFC Gulf Art Fair is on Friday and Saturday, 9-10 March, with proceeds from ticket sales going to the Al Madad Foundation for START, a project to fund children's art workshops in deprived communities.
'With prices for art ranging from the hundreds of dollars to millions of dollars, the inaugural DIFC Gulf Art Fair will offer to collectors an extensive range of work from forty of the world's top art galleries. Our comprehensive programme offers an unmatched opportunity for regional and international art collectors to interact with gallery owners, artists, and curators to learn more about global trends while enjoying the art on sale,' said Mr. John Martin, Director of DIFC Gulf Art Fair.
Spectacular art worth more than AED 360 million from across the world offered at the inaugural DIFC Gulf Art Fair
Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the much-awaited DIFC Gulf Art Fair opens with more than AED 360 million (USD100 million) worth of original artworks from around the world offered for sale.
- United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, March 07 - 2007 at 16:07
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For press enquiries please contact Katie Taylor at Brunswick Arts Consulting LLP, 16 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3ED,T: +44 (0) 20 7936 1280.
For further information about the DIFC Gulf Art Fair, participating galleries, art projects, events and the education programme please visit www.gulfartfair.com
• The London office for the DIFC Gulf Art Fair is located at 37 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JG;
T: +44 (0)20 7499 6427
• Biography, John Martin, DIFC Gulf Art Fair Director
• John Martin opened his gallery in the West End of London in 1992 dealing with contemporary British and Irish art. He has organised nearly 200 exhibitions both in Britain and the U.S during the last 14 years, published over 100 books and catalogues and produced three films. In 1999 he helped establish ARTLONDON with Ralph Ward-Jackson, and continues to sit on the advisory committee for the event. Television appearances include 'Heist' (Channel 4) and ITN. He is a member of the Society of London Art Dealers and for four years chaired a committee of The Art Fund. He lives on the Suffolk coast with his wife and two sons.
• Opening times: Wednesday 7th March (by invitation only); Thursday 8th March 7-11pm (tickets 200 Dhs); Friday 9th and Saturday 10th March 1-7pm.
• Press Preview: Wednesday 7th March 5.30-7.00 pm.
• Details on START can be found at www.almadadfoundation.org. Contact: Anthony Dawton/ info@almadadfoundation.org Tel: +44 207 3701966
• For further information on Quintessentially please visit www.quintessentially.com
• Want to learn about art and don't know where to begin? Want to visit every hot spot in town, but have cold feet? Grab a ticket on Jam Jar's Art Bus and get an education. The hop-on-hop-off luxury bus will ply around important art destinations, and with the Art Map in hand, you can act as knowledgeable as they come. Visit the galleries, DIFC's installations and take in a dozen exhibitions and chat up the tour guides. Just Dhs. 50 will save you the torture of traffic, and make you an authority on art. For further information and a timetable please consult the information desk in the foyer to the Madinat Arena during the fair
• Art Projects will be on view for the duration of the DIFC Gulf Art Fair 2007. Visitors are allowed to visit the beach area until 7.00pm each day and the DIFC building until 11pm.
• An extension to the Art Project installations will be the Bloomberg Bidoun Lounge for the duration of the DIFC Gulf Art Fair. An hour and a half programme of video work focussing on artists from the Middle East is being coordinated by Bidoun Magazine, The Third Line and the DIFC Gulf Art Fair.
Janeta Novakovic, Assistant News EditorWednesday, March 07 - 2007 at 16:07 UAE local time (GMT+4)
Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited.
This Article was updated on Tuesday, May 01 - 2007
Index : Event News : Art Dubai (DIFC Gulf Art Fair)
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