100 artworks shortlisted for Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ exhibition

The Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ exhibition is opening tomorrow in Dubai, showcasing 100 shortlisted artworks in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the competition.

The award aims to encourage and motivate talented young artists to present remarkable artworks and creativity which will enrich the UAE’s arts and cultural scene. The exhibition will take place from 20th to 27th November at City Walk 2, Dubai.

The Cultural Office of H.H Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the organiser of the exhibition, has announced the shortlist of the 100 artworks participating in the competition.

This year, the exhibition has expanded significantly, featuring 100 shortlisted artworks, up from 50 in previous years. The competition is divided into several categories, including Fine Art, Photography, Multimedia and Design. A fifth category, Architecture, has been launched this year, and attracted some of the competition’s strongest entries.

Sheikha Manal, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, DWE, and wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, highlighted that in recent years, the country has witnessed significant progress in the arts movement and the development of a flourishing arts community.

This ongoing progress is being built upon further through the exceptional contribution of talented young artists from across the UAE, Her Highness said.

She expressed the award’s pride in providing a platform to showcase exceptional artwork to the public and demonstrate the unique creativity of the artists through the ‘Young Artist Award’ exhibition.

Sheikha Manal stressed the UAE’s continuous support to arts and creativity as part of its belief in the importance of creating a vibrant arts scene in the country, which reflects the leadership’s vision to embed a culture of artistic expression and creative exploration within the country.

"Through this special 10-year edition of the competition, we aim to support new rising talents, who have put forward some remarkable entries across all categories. We are pleased to witness the next generation joining the numerous ‘Young Artist Award’ participants who have gone on to become renowned artists in their fields and key contributors to the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a global hub for creative thinking and culture," she said.

H.H. expressed her gratitude to the emerging artists who participated in this year’s competition for their exceptional contributions, and wished the 100 shortlisted entrants the best of the final stage of the competition.