Life-size Arabian horse sculptures, painted by local and international artists, will be exhibited on the streets of Dubai and auctioned for charity.
As a follow-up initiative to the Camel Caravan a few years ago, Dubai's Celebration of the Arabian Horse will showcase about 80 sculptures in the city, until they are sold at the end of May.
Proceeds from the auction will go to children's charities across the region, and to the development of arts and culture in Dubai, said Patricia Palmer, Director of ArtWorks and founder of the project.
"Our goal is to take art out of the traditional exhibition places, and get people interested in art, involved in the artistic process and thinking about it. We want people to go back to the galleries and enjoy all kinds of art," she said.
"I think this is really fabulous for artists. We have people who took part in the Camel Caravan coming back this year and bringing their friends. It is just great, and some of the designs are wonderful," she said.
Dubai's Celebration of the Arabian Horses should see about 100 horses painted and displayed around the city, said Palmer. Palmer is also working on a sculpture for the Dubai Autism Centre.
"It is called Stars In The Night and has 34 stars on it, representing the children of the centre. The horse itself is covered in handprints from children who are on the waiting list," she said.
The public art and charity project is supported by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.
Shaikh Mohammad recently inaugurated the Pride of Arabia exhibition at the Emirates Towers Boulevard.
The exposition is made up of 21 small Arabian horse sculptures, hand painted by artists from more than 15 countries.
Yana Kudsi from the Czech Republic has been living in the UAE for 17 years. She is painting two horses for the Emirates Children's Symphony Orchestra.
"I like painting, I used to be an art teacher. Making something that will raise money for charity is a big motivation for me. I'm really putting my heart into my piece.
"All the designs on my sculpture are for the children and linked to music. It's a lot of fun. I have been working on this for about a month, it has to be perfect," she said.
The horses are being painted on the second floor of Children's City in Creek Park. The public is welcome to watch the artists at work.
Among the charities to benefit from the auction of the sculptures are the Dubai Autism Centre, Dubai Centre for Special Needs, Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, Emirates Children's Symphony Orchestra, Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, Al Noor Centre for Special Needs, Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Riding for the Disabled Centre of Dubai.
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