Van Cleef and Arpels, Tashkeel, Design Days Dubai announce collaboration to support artists and designers across GCC

This debut partnership calls upon regional artists and designers to present designs that encapsulate the relevance, value and spirit of art.

This inspirational theme celebrates innovative and visionary designs and artists are expected to submit inventive artworks that embody the process of transformation.

The talented winner will be rewarded with a trip to Paris to experience L'ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels and to enjoy a lifetime experience in Paris. L'ECOLE is a school of Jewellery that offers a unique method of discovering and learning, and an inside knowledge of this fascinating world.

For Van Cleef & Arpels, an ardent defender of the artistic crafts, passing on, sharing and teaching knowledge is a duty. L'ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels is located on the place Vendôme in an 18th century town house that embodies French Artistic Style. The winner will also have the opportunity to exhibit their art design at Design Days Dubai on the Van Cleef & Arpels pavilion.

"For Van Cleef & Arpels, art is intrinsic to the spirit of the Maison and we are happy to give artists of the region the chance to unveil their talents to the public," stated Alban Belloir, Managing Director of Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East & India.

"We are proud to launch today 'Métamorphose' in the Middle East in partnership with Tashkeel and Design Days Dubai. Metamorphosis is the art of transformation; it is inherent to the concept of renewal and one of the guiding principles in our beautiful creations," he added.

Metamorphosis was selected as a theme because it is one of the recurring qualities integral to Van Cleef & Arpels' design philosophy and was embraced by Tashkeel as providing extensive creative opportunities to artists and designers from a range of disciplines. It can be described as a transformation in appearance, character, condition or function of a natural phenomenon or designed.

Artists are urged to explore creative innovation to interpret the extensive nature of the Metamorphosis theme. Only original and new artworks or designs submissions will be accepted at Tashkeel, and can be in the form of 2D or 3D outcome or fully functional prototypes. Participating artists and designers should submit images of a maximum of three works, together with a completed application form, by 12th February 2013.

"We are honoured to be associated with such eminent organizations as Van Cleef & Arpels and Design Days Dubai for our annual open call. This presents an amazing opportunity for both artists and designers to challenge their creativity in responding to the universal theme of Metamorphosis and we are very excited to see the submissions in response to this call," said Lateefa bint Maktoum, Director, Tashkeel

"We are delighted to see a blossoming relationship between the sponsors of Design Days Dubai, and emerging talents in the region, and we're very much looking forward to seeing the submissions of works and the winning piece exhibited at the fair," said Cyril Zammit, Fair Director of Design Days Dubai. "We hope this competition fosters a larger appreciation for design in the Middle East, and also strengthens Dubai's position on the global design scene," Cyril Zammit added.

The art work of the winner will be unveiled at Van Cleef & Arpels 'Métamorphose' exhibition at Design Days Dubai 2013 to be held from 18th to 21st March 2013 at Downtown Burj Khalifa Boulevard.