Abu Dhabi Art announced the establishment of the Friends of Abu Dhabi Arts-an initiative to promote a new model of public cultural philanthropy and help support the vibrant arts ecosystem of the UAE through Abu Dhabi Arts. The Friends of Abu Dhabi Art, the first group of more than 40 professional art enthusiasts started this year and will support the Abu Dhabi Art Beyond: Emerging Artists, which is curated by guest curators Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath.
Founder of the repositioning of a multidisciplinary curatorial platform Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Abu Dhabi Art, said: “We are hugely grateful to our Friends of Abu Dhabi Art members, who will play an integral role in supporting emerging artists from the UAE this year and engaging the wider public with their work. As a group of cultural philanthropists brought together by a shared desire to support art in the Emirates, Friends of Abu Dhabi Art will strengthen and enhance our existing Beyond: Emerging Artists programme this year in exciting new ways.”
Anyone looking to actively support artists and the art ecosystem in the UAE can apply to join the initiative via the webpage as well. All members are required to pay an annual fee for membership, with funds raised enabling the commissioning of new artworks through Abu Dhabi Art. Keystone members will act as an advisory group for Friends of Abu Dhabi Art, overseen by co-heads, Nadine Maalouf, Co-Founder of 81 Designs and Nadia Sehweil, CEO of Bodytree Wellness.
Benefits for membership include opportunities to attend private talks by appointed curators and artists, as well as artist studio visits and events, private tours at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair in November and the commissioning of new work in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Art announced earlier this month that Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath will commission emerging UAE artists to create three new works; Hashel Al Lamki, Maitha Abdalla and Christopher Benton’s Beyond: Emerging Artists will be exhibited at the exhibition in November. The annual Abu Dhabi Art Project was selected as the first initiative supported by the Friends of Art in Abu Dhabi this year, marking the future cooperation with emerging and established artists in the UAE.
The upcoming exhibition will be open to the public in Manarat Al Saadiyat from Wednesday, November 17 to Sunday, November 21, 2021.
