Dresdner Bank promotes international cultural exchange

From November 15th, 2008, Matthias Scholten and Hannes Michanek, two young artists of the 'Städelschule', will be residing in Dubai for six months in order to work on their art projects. In the spring of 2009, two artists from Dubai will be given the opportunity to visit Germany in return.

"With our program, we would like to see eye to eye with and promote artistic and intercultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East," explains Astrid Kiessling, Curator of Dresdner Bank.

The jury- consisting of representatives of the 'Städelschule', of the Cultural Office of Frankfurt, of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and of Dresdner Bank - selected the video artist Matthias Scholten (Germany) and the painter Hannes Michanek (Sweden) as the first scholarship holders. These two artists approach art in very different ways: Scholten, 28, plans to examine the topic 'Youth Culture in Dubai' by means of photography and video. Born in Stuttgart, he studied film in the department of Professor Mark Leckey from 2002 until 2008.

Michanek, by one year his senior, studied paint in Sweden and has been a student at the Städelschule (in the Class of Prof. Michael Krebber) since 2007. He will not work on a specific project in Dubai, but rather draw inspiration for his painting from the new culture. The artists will present the results of their works in an exhibition at the end of their scholarship in Dubai.

The cultural scene is on the move in Dubai. A number of museums and an opera house are being built with many of these activities supported by German cultural organizations. Dresdner Bank would like to intensify its commitment. A co-operation with the auction house Bonhams is also part of this engagement. If the cultural exchange program is a success, an extension to the fields of literature, music and performing arts is possible as well.