Dubai, March 18th, 2008 (WAM) -- Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoumon, opened Tuesday the second Art Dubai 2008, the Middle East?s first-ever contemporary art fair, at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed toured various pavilions of the five-day fair which exhibits all forms of contemporary visual art, paintings, sculpture, photography, video work, and large-scale installations for over 70 galleries from accross the worldincluding London, New York, Beijing, Paris, Munich, and Zurich..
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by organisers on the event programme which includes a series of talks and discussions on the importance of art in the corporate realm in a conference hosted by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)under the title 'Art Patronage in the Business Age'. Impressed by the wonderful displays, Sheikh Mohammed said :''The fair reaffirms the UAE lends special attention to science, culture and art and promotes through staging such events openness towards other cultures, and understanding the 'other' to arrive at a harmonious civilisational and culture blend that advances humanity. The regional and international art world shifts its focus to Dubai as an important cultural and art hub. This year's Art Dubai has almost doubled the number of galleries participating, as well as significantly increasing the size and scope of its art projects and Global Art Forum, since the inaugural DIFC Gulf Art Fair in 2007. Organisers said Art Dubai has become a significant event on the international art calendar. It has inspired the best art minds across the region and the globe to take part in the five-day event. . For the next five days, some of the Middle East?s leading artists and cultural influencers will meet a number of the world?s leading gallerists, curators, collectors and arts thinkers at Art Dubai, creating the widest array of contemporary art and arts development discussions ever located in one venue in the region. Art Dubai is a subsidiary of the Dubai International Financial centre and is held in partnership with Abraaj capital. Madinat Jumeirah is the exclusive hotel partner for the event.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.
