- Are you an aspiring artist with a passion for innovation?
- Take your creativity to new heights
ABOUT AL-FUTTAIM FESTIVAL OF ARTS
The Al-Futtaim Festival of Arts competition aims to provide an opportunity and innovative platform for emerging artists across the Emirates to express their creativity by transforming their innovative ideas into practical reality.
Flight Into Innovation
Held under the theme ‘Flight into Innovation’ in November 2021, the contest invited emerging artists across the UAE to express their creativity and transform innovative ideas into practical reality through wall-based art. As part of this inaugural edition, over 800 entries were received with 34 selected to be displayed at an art gallery in a premium location at the mall. Supporting the emerging artists, Dubai Culture promoted the event across its various social channels to help reach a wider network.
The 34 artworks from the Festival of Arts competition displayed at the gallery are open to the public from 28th February until 28th May 2022 next to Sugar Factory on Level 1 at Dubai Festival City Mall.
First-place contestant Sara Tahir from Pakistan, other emerging artists who made it to the top four included Kathleen Espinola Sum from Philippines, Abda Fayyaz from Pakistan and Ali Bahmani from Iran.
FESTIVAL OF ARTS CREATIVE ADVISOR
Patricia Millns FRSA holds Hon degrees in Fine Art and MA in Art and Design history.
Her Middle East based practice centers on women’s studies, identity and cultural significance defined through clothing, adornment and olfactory heritage of the region. Patricia acts as a Creative Industries advisor and mentor.
Patricia is an elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts London, IAPA, UNESCO and sits of many advisory boards. She has represented UK at United Nations (UN) New York , Women of the World, Sharjah and Cairo Biennials. Public Collections include United Nations UNIFEM, British Museum, British Council, British Common wealth Society, the Windsor, Bulgari, Salsali, Sainsbury collections and National Museum Collections regionally.
Her works are in private collections, locally and internationally.
Her Middle East based practice centers on women’s studies, identity and cultural significance defined through clothing, adornment and olfactory heritage of the region. Patricia acts as a Creative Industries advisor and mentor.
Patricia is an elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts London, IAPA, UNESCO and sits of many advisory boards. She has represented UK at United Nations (UN) New York , Women of the World, Sharjah and Cairo Biennials. Public Collections include United Nations UNIFEM, British Museum, British Council, British Common wealth Society, the Windsor, Bulgari, Salsali, Sainsbury collections and National Museum Collections regionally.
Her works are in private collections, locally and internationally.
Patricia Millns FRSA
MEET THE JUDGES
Aidan Imanova
Aidan Imanova is the editor of identity magazine, a design and architecture publication that is part of Motivate Media Group. Aidan has been covering design and architecture for a number of regional and international publications for over a decade, with a primary focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Her previous roles include digital editor of Commercial Interior Design and Middle East Architect and editor of online magazine, designMENA.
Aidan has also worked on a wide range of events in the fields of design an architecture including awards programmes and conferences as well as moderating various talks and round tables.
eL Seed
eL Seed’s artwork underlines his key principals of love, respect and tolerance and can be found all over the world unifying communities and redressing stereotypes. His work has been shown in exhibitions and in public places all over the world.
In 2013, he collaborated with Louis Vuitton on their famous ‘Foulard d’Artiste’. In 2017, he won the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture. He was named a Global Thinker in 2016 by Foreign Policy for his project ‘Perception’ in Cairo. In 2020, eL Seed becomes a member of the YGL community (Young Global Leaders).
Nujoom Alghanem
Nujoom Alghanem is an Emirati artist, poet and film director. As a filmmaker she has produced 20 films including documentaries, short fiction, and art films. Her films have won regional and international prizes and recognitions. Alongside her artistic endeavors, she has worked as a professional trainer in filmmaking and creative writing as well as a cultural consultant.
Alghanem is the holder of a Master’s degree in film production from Griffith University in Australia and a Bachelor’s degree in video production from Ohio University in the United States.
Jassim Alawadhi
Jassim Alawadhi, a 60-year-old ex CSI expert in Dubai police with a love for photography since the late 70s. Jassim believed that photography keeps memories alive even when demolished as his love for abandoned places speak to him. He is an unorthodox artist doesn’t go by the books he likes art to be touched and experienced by the viewer to feel connected.
Alawadi judges’ art competitions to bring out the best in all artists especially the newcomers. With 40 years of archived work this artist has a lot to show.