Artists-in-Residence Dubai invites submissions for 2013 edition

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage – in partnership with the Delfina Foundation, Art Dubai, and Tashkeel, has invited submissions for the 2013 edition of the annual Artists-in-Residence (A.i.R) Dubai programme, held at Al Bastakiya, the cultural nerve-centre of Dubai.

In 2013, the annual residency programme for artists and curators will run from January 7 to March 31, coinciding with Art Week, Dubai’s premier umbrella arts initiative, which includes Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, and SIKKA Art Fair, Dubai Culture’s contemporary art fair.

Opening the doors of Al Bastakiya to three Emirati artists, three international artists, and a curator-in-residence, the A.i.R Dubai programme is aimed at supporting artists, by providing a platform to develop their practice and create new work, while nurturing and encouraging intercultural dialogue through contemporary art.

The six artists will work together in studio spaces in Al Bastakiya, alongside the international curator-in-residence, with the residency culminating in an Open Studios exhibition, which will parallel to the SIKKA Art Fair in March 2013. The international artists are also commissioned to create site-specific works for Art Dubai Projects, the critically-acclaimed, non-commercial programme which forms part of the fair’s programming.

Salem Belyouha, Projects & Events Director, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Today, Dubai is at the forefront of the arts scene, firmly establishing its credentials alongside international counterparts. The annual Artists-in-Residence programme serves as the ideal platform to facilitate exchange of ideas and experiences, enabling the participating artists to derive inspiration from each other, from Al Bastakiya, and above all, from the city of Dubai.”

The call is open for applications from Emirati artists and international curators, while the international artists-in-residence will be identified through a nomination process by A.i.R Dubai’s selection panel, consisting of all partners and the 2013 guest juror, Cairo-based curator and writer Sarah Rifky.

Interested Emirati artists can explore a range of art disciplines including visual arts and film, paintings and mixed-media installations. The deadline for submissions for the artists and curators is September 16, 2012. Entries will be evaluated by the selection panel, and the selected artists and curators will be announced in October 2012.

Curators will have the opportunity to carry out in-depth research, curatorial activities, and critical writing on the cultural and artistic scene of the Gulf. The curator-in-residence will be chosen through A.i.R Dubai’s selection panel with ArtAsiaPacific, a leading international art publication, and partner on the curator-in-residence programme.

Applications for the A.i.R programme are available at www.dubaiculture.ae (or contact Dubai Culture on 04 8004003 or e-mail artsServices@dubaiculture.ae), while applications for the Curator-in-Residence programme are available at www.delfinafoundation.com. More information is also available via the Art Dubai website (www.artdubai.ae) and Tashkeel (www.tashkeel.org).