Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, in partnership with Van Cleef & Arpels, recently celebrated the successful conclusion of the inaugural phase of the ‘Talent Atelier’ programme. This initiative, held at the renowned L’ÉCOLE Middle East campus in Dubai Design District, honored twelve aspiring Emirati designers who completed a comprehensive three-week course in jewellery design.
The ‘Talent Atelier’ programme aims to foster the talents of emerging local designers by enhancing their knowledge and skills. The programme was delivered by L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s experts, including jewellers, gemologists, and art historians, who provided lectures and hands-on training in subjects like Art History, Gemstones, and jewellery-making techniques.
A highlight of the programme was a visit to the Al Safa Art and Design Library, where the designers explored L’ÉCOLE’s first offsite library corner, featuring a curated collection of books on jewellery art.
At the closing ceremony, the twelve designers were awarded certificates in the presence of representatives from Dubai Culture and L’ÉCOLE Middle East. Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, along with Alessandro Maffi, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East and India, and Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East, addressed the audience.
Hala Badri emphasized the significance of the partnership with L’ÉCOLE Middle East and highlighted Dubai’s standing as a UNESCO City of Design, stating, “The ‘Talent Atelier’ programme is an inspiring platform for Emirati designers, encouraging them to develop their skills in jewellery-making, showcase their distinctive ideas and creativity, and contribute to enriching Dubai’s creative landscape.
At Dubai Culture, we are committed to nurturing and supporting Emirati talent by providing a creative ecosystem that enables them to thrive, thereby advancing this vital sector.”
Alessandro Maffi expressed Van Cleef & Arpels’ commitment to fostering local talent, saying, “Van Cleef & Arpels is thrilled to witness this long-standing partnership between L’ÉCOLE Middle East and Dubai Culture. By empowering the region’s local talent, we continuously reinforce and foster the culture of jewellery art, to pave the way for a new generation of Emirati designers.”
Sophie Claudel shared her pride in the programme’s success, stating, “We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of these designers for the first phase of the ‘Talent Atelier’ programme. It has been an honour to witness their growth, creativity, and dedication throughout this journey with us.”
As part of the second phase of the programme, six of the designers will be selected for a five-day educational journey to Paris in November 2024, where they will further their jewellery education at L’ÉCOLE France’s Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau campus.
L’ÉCOLE Middle East remains dedicated to supporting educational initiatives with a focus on social impact. All proceeds from its public courses and lectures are donated to Dubai Cares, ensuring that children in developing countries receive quality education. The school will continue offering public courses in the coming months, inviting more participants to engage with its educational offerings while contributing to a meaningful cause.
The ‘Talent Atelier’ programme marks a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Dubai Culture and L’ÉCOLE Middle East, reinforcing their shared vision of nurturing the region’s creative landscape.
