Dubai commences mega project for public art installations

Dh2m for first project at Al Hudaiba garden, others sites to follow

The Public Art Strategy of Dubai was activated yesterday with a Dh2 million inaugural commission and open call for an art installation in a public garden in Al Hudaiba area. The project will be unveiled later this year.

The Strategy comes in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the capital of the global creative economy by 2026. Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has now begun the implementation of the Strategy that seeks to transform the emirate into an open, accessible and global art gallery whilst supporting the emirate’s creative economy.

Earlier, last January, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, had approved the Public Art Strategy. Dubai Culture, headed by Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Member of the Dubai Council, is leading the artistic movement.

Interactive social space

The step confirms Dubai Culture’s keenness to empower creatives and coordinate with various institutions and stakeholders to transform Dubai’s streets, neighbourhoods and public areas into touristic and cultural destinations. The Authority aims to transform Dubai’s public spaces with artwork, sculptures, paintings, murals and art installations that reflect the creative identity of the emirate and generate an interactive social space between artists and the public. This increases art accessibility and establishes a sustainable creative environment, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) that seeks to double Dubai’s GDP by 2033.

Hala Badri, Director-General, Dubai Culture, said: “Expanding public art is part of Dubai’s vision to become an incubator for creatives from all over the world, promote the spirit of cultural innovation and raise the level of artistic and visual taste in the city. Through this strategy, we seek to create a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship, support Dubai’s creative economy, and strengthen partnerships with the private sector.”

To ensure the success of the Public Art Strategy, the Authority sought to empower the creative community by collaborating with Art Dubai, Tashkeel, Alserkal, Art Jameel, and Akaas Visual Arts, who in turn will undertake the task of issuing open calls to all artists, offering them the platform to participate in presenting a series of unique, site-specific art installations.

Dr Saeed Mubarak Bin Kharbash, CEO of Arts and Literature at Dubai Culture, said: “In line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, which aims to make Dubai the global capital of the creative economy and increase the cultural and creative industries’ contribution to the national GDP to five per cent by 2026, Dubai Public Art is part of a strategic approach that will foster the growth and sustainability of the city’s cultural ecosystem and creative economy.”

Expanding public art is part of Dubai’s vision to become an incubator for creatives from all over the world.”

Hala Badri | Director-General, Dubai Culture