Skywards, Emirates Airline award-winning frequent flyer programme, announced the three winners of the 2011 Skywards Future Artists Competition.
The winning designs, selected from over 2,250 entries received created by emerging artists, were based on themes which included Opulence, Sophistication and Modernism. The winning artists, whose work will be featured on Skywards 2012 membership cards, Skywards Gold; Naji Muneer, Digital and Physical Models, Jordanian, UAE resident Skywards Silver (Sophistication); Cecile Faucheur, Textile and Watercolours, French, UAE Resident; Skywards Blue (Modernism); Bryan Smith, Digital Imagery, Australian, Australian Resident
Through the Future Artists programme, now in its second year, Skywards showcases contemporary art directly to its discerning global audience. It is a unique opportunity to reward creative talent and showcase the art to the six million Skywards members across 236 countries and territories around the world.
Judging was conducted by a panel of highly regarded industry professionals, experts, and Skywards members. The artwork was judged according to creative merit, technical excellence and suitability for end use. The panel of judges created a shortlist of entries which were then judged by the Skywards members through a voting process on the Skywards Future Artists website:www.ourfutureartists.com
“The variety and impressive submissions from artists worldwide for our Future Artists Competition, as well as the voting participation from our Skywards’ members, made this year’s competition even more rewarding,” said Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President, Skywards. “It is through programmes like this that Skywards reaches out to its global customers; connecting our frequent travellers with the future stars of the art world.” “The fact that our winning artists are originally from three different continents is very fitting as the artists themselves reflect the unique profiles of our global members, he added.
In addition to the year-long global exposure of their art on the Skywards membership cards, the three winners will receive a commission of US$5000 and will be flown to Dubai, where their winning entry and design portfolio will be exhibited at the Art Dubai fair in early 2012. Art Dubai is the leading contemporary art fair in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia and is attended by art critics, collectors and gallery owners from around the world.
