Prominent art influencers to judge 10th edition of Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award' competition

Dubai, UAE, 13 October, 2016:  The Cultural Office of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has announced the judging panel of this year’s 10th edition of the Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ competition, which features a range of art influencers from prominent organisations and institutions within the region and beyond. 

The judges include Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Hamad Khoory, architect and partner at the Loci Architecture & Design Studio, Venetia Porter, Assistant Keeper (Curator) - Islamic and contemporary Middle East at the British Museum, Ali bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), Mohammed Saeed Harib, Founder of Lammtara Art Production and Cyril Zammit, Fair Director of Design Days Dubai. 

The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award was first launched in 2006, and aims to encourage, recognise and promote emerging artists from the UAE. The judging process will take place in three stages. The first stage includes a pre-selection of 200 artworks via the award website (www.youngartistaward.ae), whilst the second will involve shortlisting 100 artworks, which will be showcased at the Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ exhibition at City Walk 2 from November 21-30 2016.  

As part of the final stage, the judges will select the Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ competition winners during the exhibition, who will be announced at an awards ceremony on December 4th.

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, said: "For several years, the Sheikha Manal ‘Young Artist Award’ has played an important role in bringing artists from the fields of fine art, photography, multimedia and design into the public eye. Artists that are chosen, including the non-winners, all benefit from the critical feedback from judges as well as higher exposure."
 
The competition is divided into five main categories: Fine Art, Photography, Multimedia, Design and Architecture, which is a newly launched category for this year. Entry submissions to the Architecture category should include a 250 word project description and a digital rendering which includes perspective views, a ground floor plan and elevation. Shortlisted entrants will then be asked to submit an architectural model measuring 30cm x 42cm.

Hamad Khoory, Architect and Partner at the Loci Architecture & Design Studio, said: “I am truly honoured to join the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award jury panel on their 10th anniversary, but more importantly I am delighted to see the introduction of the architecture category; which inevitably is the sum of all the fine arts.”

Venetia Porter, Assistant Keeper (Curator) - Islamic and contemporary Middle East at the British Museum, said: “It is a huge honour to have been invited to be a judge for the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award, on the 10th anniversary of this prestigious prize. There is so much talent in the UAE – I am looking forward to seeing what will be presented and participating in the selection process.”

This year, group submissions can also be entered into the competition, in addition to an artist solo project being entered into the same category. From the group submission entries, one winner will be selected across all of the categories and the group submission winner will receive an award prize of AED 40,000. 

This year’s competition will also feature a ‘People’s Choice’ as well as ‘Social Media’ recognition award. The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award is open to all UAE residents, young artists and students between the ages of 18-30 years old. All entries must be submitted online at www.youngartistaward.ae no later than 31 October 2016. The award prizes include AED 50,000 for first place, AED 30,000 for second place and AED 20,000 for third place.