The Dubai Collection is an initiative launched by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (DCAA) in collaboration with Art Dubai Group. It is an opportunity for patrons to showcase their collections and for artists to have their artworks included in a publicly accessible platform. The collection will showcase the history of the city and highlight Dubai’s vibrant and progressive identity, reaffirming its position as an international hub for art and culture. The Art Dubai Group will continue to be the primary point of contact for its full operations, running activities on behalf of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Collection is the first institutional art collection in the city and for the city. It aims to inspire and educate those who live and visit Dubai, and support the thriving arts sector and all the creative professionals who call Dubai home.
The members of committees of Dubai Collection were announced on Tuesday, 27 April. The announcement was made by H.H. Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Chair of the Dubai Collection’s Steering Committee.
“I am thrilled to see this exceptional line-up of members of the Dubai Collection’s Steering and Curatorial Committees. Mirroring Dubai’s cosmopolitan spirit, members include leading figures from both the UAE and the global art scene, all of them with a track record of supporting and promoting modern and contemporary art from the UAE, be it through their own collections or their academic or curatorial work. We are excited about the next phase of the project”, said H.H. Sheikha Latifa.
The Steering Committee, which will oversee the development of the Dubai Collection, is made up of leading figures from the UAE cultural sector. Their role is to ensure that the initiative fulfils its objective of celebrating the inclusive and cosmopolitan spirit of Dubai and the UAE, while ensuring it is run according to best practices in the cultural sector. Chaired by Sheikha Latifa, the Steering Committee’s members are Noura Bint Mohammad Al Kaabi; Abdul Rahman Al Owais; Mohammad Al Murr, Abdel Monem Bin Eisa Al Serkal, and Muna Easa Al Gurg.
Alongside the Steering Committee, a Curatorial Committee will be responsible for overseeing the process of selecting artworks to be included in the collection. The committee is composed of individuals with substantial experience in exhibitions and building world-class institutional collections. Chaired by Muna Faisal Al Gurg, the Curatorial Committee’s members are Munira Al Sayegh, Antonia Carver, Catherine David, Venetia Porter, Nada Shabout and Maryam Al Dabbagh. The Curatorial Committee will gather for its first official meeting in May.
The Committees, elected jointly by DCAA and Art Dubai Group and managed by Art Dubai Group, will enable Patrons to benefit from decades of experience and deep knowledge of international art markets. Since its early days, Art Dubai Group has aimed to be a catalyst for creative expression and cultural development. In this spirit, the Dubai Collection will contribute to strengthening the cultural ecosystem of the city whilst offering a new platform and resource for artists, creative professionals and the public.
Audience can view the Dubai Collection in multiple ways. Works will be physically on display in accessible locations across the city or brought together in curated exhibitions. The initiative will be an opportunity for creative dialogue in the UAE and internationally, through exchanges and touring exhibitions in galleries and museums abroad. A Digital Museum will bring together educational material and critical perspectives on the Collection to support research and satisfy curiosity anywhere in the world.