Manal Ataya, director general of the Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA), highlighted at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2022 the thriving art scene in the Arab world that offers many opportunities for regional artists.
In a discussion titled “What art institutions want from the next great Arab artists,” Ataya discussed the role of art institutions in increasing the exposure of talents from the Middle East, providing a better perspective on the future of the cultural world.
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Acknowledging the existing challenges in the Arab art scene, Ataya pointed to the growing support and guidance available to emerging young artists in the UAE through various grants, exhibitions and publications.
Government institutions, such as the Sharjah Art Museum and Sharjah Art Foundation, have made great strides in increasing cultural production and providing a platform for regional artists to showcase their talents.
“The Sharjah Museums Authority is making great efforts to bring to light Arab artistic talents, which have not been shown much before. Today, the works of these artists are taught in school and university curricula,” said Ataya.
He added that the authorities have recorded an increase in research requests for the collections displayed throughout the Sharjah Museum, which shows the great impact of the institution’s efforts in encouraging interest in Arab and Islamic art. and reach a wider audience.
During his interview, he also highlighted the contribution of the increasing number of artistic grants and degrees in universities in the UAE in supporting artistic production and improving the field. wider artistic.
“The University of Sharjah, for example, has the first College of Fine Arts and Design in the UAE, which was established in 2002 and has since offered a specialized art degree that continues to nurture a generation of designers,” he said.
“Other major educational institutions in the UAE such as Sorbonne University, New York Abu Dhabi and Zayed University have unique degrees and postgraduate degrees ranging from archaeology, cultural heritage, to art history and museum studies.”
Ataya added: “The growth of such programs indicates a great focus devoted to the growth and export of the artist base to other regions and provides a great opportunity for talent to explore specific areas of the art.”
The session, which offered insight into the present and future of the art scene, was moderated by Emirati artist and curator Sumayyah Al Suwaidi.
In its fifth year, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival brings together a community of innovators, innovators and changemakers from around the world for two days of dialogue aimed at driving impactful change. This year’s event focuses on sustainability, culture, creativity and health.
As a community partner this year, SMA has developed several activities and workshops to engage community members and also provided the unique event “Museum Express ” for the participants and visitors of the main event.
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