Abraaj Group Art Prize Commissions To Be Housed in Dubai’s Jameel Arts Centre

On March 20, non-profit foundation Art Jameel and Abraaj Group Art Prize announced a new collaboration that will see a collection of commissioned works from the first ten years of the prize being loaned long term to Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Thirty works by 44 artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia—including 2018’s winner, Beirut-based artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan—will go on display at the Centre, which will officially open its doors on November 11, 2018.

The Abraaj Group Art Prize, inaugurated in 2008, is part of the arts patronage program of Dubai-based investor Abraaj Group, and is presented annually at the Art Dubai fair, with the winner receiving a grant of USD 100,000 and shortlisted artists each receiving USD 10,000 to create new projects. Previous recipients of the prize include Irish-Iraqi photographer and video artist Jananne al-Ani, French-Algerian installation artist Kader Attia, Egyptian multimedia artist Basim Magdy, Pakistani sculptor and photographer Huma Mulji, and Egyptian artist and filmmaker Wael Shawky.

The long-awaited Jameel Arts Centre is an interactive and creative space designed by London and Mumbai-based Serie Architects, with more than 1,200 square metres of gallery space, as well as a 300-square-meter public research centre, flexible studios, a cafe and bookstore. The opening of the foundation’s new building will coincide with the eve of Dubai Design Week.

The inauguration of the Centre and partnership with the Abraaj Group Art Prize mark a period of expansion for Art Jameel. Just last week, the organization announced the launch of another partnership with London-based non-profit Delfina Foundation that aims to extend the global reach of both organizations, and develop new programs and residency initiatives. Additionally, Art Jameel’s new complex Hayy: Creative Hub is set to open in 2019 in Jeddah.

Elizabeth Wang is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.

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