Shortlisted Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award entries go on display in Dubai

Hamza Al Omari gets a close up look at the artwork Nest. Courtesy The Cultural Office of HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

For the next week, the shortlisted entries for the 10th edition of the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award competition will be on display in Dubai.

Divided into five categories, there are 100 pieces of art in total, submitted from UAE residents aged between 18 and 30.

In the Fine Art category, pieces range from digital art and painting as well as sculpture, where more traditional portraits are presented alongside abstract patterns or collage. There are also sections for photography and multimedia videos as well as design, which incorporates prototype models as well as fully functional objects.

The final category is dedicated to architecture, where young minds have envisioned future projects for Dubai, such as a bridge, a centre for film, an art museum or a planetarium.

The exhibition is a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the young artists growing up in Dubai and, as is open to the public, an online vote is open for you to vote for your favourite artwork.

As the exhibition closes, a panel of judges including Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Venetia Porter, a prominent curator from the British Museum in London and Ali bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), will decide on winners for each category.

The prize is Dh50,000 for first place, Dh30,000 for second place and Dh 20,000 for third place. The People’s Choice competition winner will be awarded a prize of Dh12,000.

As he inaugurated the exhibition this week, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: “I was very impressed with the quality of the artworks and variety of creative techniques presented by so many talented young artists from across the UAE, which highlights how much progress, under the guidance of our wise leadership, has been made in the development of the arts and in nurturing home-grown artistic talent throughout the country in recent years.

“The tireless work of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and The Cultural Office to support and encourage the arts movement in the UAE through various cultural initiatives and projects such as the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award has contributed significantly to this progress.”

• The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award exhibition is open on City Walk, Dubai until November 27. The winners will be announced on December 4. Visit www.youngartistaward.ae