Latest news with #Children'sProgramme
Mid East Info
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme launches fifth edition on World Creativity and Innovation Day - Middle East Business News and Information
The fifth edition of the A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme launches today in schools across the UAE, timed to coincide with World Creativity and Innovation day – a special day marked by the United Nations to celebrate the role of creativity in human development. This year introduces the first collaborative artist pairing for the UAE's largest cultural initiative, that has reached over 30,000 children since its launch in 2021. The programme has been developed by Peju Alatise, a widely recognised contemporary African artist who represented Nigeria at the 2017 Venice Biennale, and Alia Hussain Lootah, an established Emirati artist and educator who co-founded Dubai-based art studio Medaf that offers workshops introducing both children and adults to art, and it will explore the 'Future of Water' with hands-on artist-led workshops running through June 2025. The artist-led sessions are designed for children aged 5 to 17, allowing them to paint or create mixed-media collage on clear plexiglass sheets. As water is stored within these sheets, it interacts with their work, reshaping and distorting the visuals. This process reflects how our relationship with water continues to shift and be influenced by the world around us. This edition also expands to include a masterclass for educators, led by the artists and industry professionals, to embed more creative and flexible teaching strategies into the UAE's classrooms. The programme will also feature a panel discussion during Art Dubai 2025, bringing together educators to reflect on the value of arts education and its impact on future generations. Bridging Art and Education This initiative is developed through a partnership between Art Dubai, the Middle East's leading international art fair, and Dubai-based private investment firm A.R.M. Holding. H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of A.R.M. Holding, said: 'Our patronage of the arts goes beyond collecting, and this programme reflects our broader mission to help build vibrant, connected communities. It reinforces our commitment and ongoing support to culture and education, and to empowering the next generation of leaders, cultural ambassadors, changemakers, and creative thinkers who will shape the UAE's future.' Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai, said: 'Supporting children early in their creative journey is incredibly important and something we care deeply about. We are proud to work with artists, schools and students to produce world-class programmes to inspire and encourage the next generation of creative minds. Dubai is a global city, welcoming people from all over the world. We are proud to be working with two artists – one local, one international – for the first time. This initiative gives young minds the chance to experience art in new ways – through discovery, expression, and meaningful connection – which lies at the core of this long-term partnership.' Artists' Perspectives 'Water is central to life, and through this project. We're inviting children to treat it as a creative medium that reflects their thoughts, hopes, and questions about the future. As artists, we can guide the process, but it is the children who will show us new ways of thinking. It will reflect on their relationship with water—how it shapes their homes, environment, and culture. The programme offers a unique creative lens through which we can reimagine how we care for our shared world,' said Alatise, who is a leading voice in African contemporary art. Lootah, whose work explores meditative expression through patterns and the interpersonal relationships between mother and child, said: 'As both an artist and educator, I believe in art's power to foster connections between people and with the environment. In the UAE, water holds deep cultural significance, with traditional transportation once centred around the Al Khor (the creek). Through this programme, art becomes a gateway for children to explore and share values, helping them reflect on water as a precious resource. We bring these ideas into classrooms in an engaging, thought-provoking way through workshops that encourage reflection and inspire a deeper appreciation for the environment.'
Zawya
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme launches fifth edition on World Creativity and Innovation Day
The fifth edition of the A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme launches today in schools across the UAE, timed to coincide with World Creativity and Innovation day ( - a special day marked by the United Nations to celebrate the role of creativity in human development. This year introduces the first collaborative artist pairing for the UAE's largest cultural initiative, that has reached over 30,000 children since its launch in 2021. The programme has been developed by Peju Alatise, a widely recognised contemporary African artist who represented Nigeria at the 2017 Venice Biennale, and Alia Hussain Lootah, an established Emirati artist and educator who co-founded Dubai-based art studio Medaf that offers workshops introducing both children and adults to art, and it will explore the 'Future of Water' with hands-on artist-led workshops running through June 2025. The artist-led sessions are designed for children aged 5 to 17, allowing them to paint or create mixed-media collage on clear plexiglass sheets. As water is stored within these sheets, it interacts with their work, reshaping and distorting the visuals. This process reflects how our relationship with water continues to shift and be influenced by the world around us. This edition also expands to include a masterclass for educators, led by the artists and industry professionals, to embed more creative and flexible teaching strategies into the UAE's classrooms. The programme will also feature a panel discussion during Art Dubai 2025, bringing together educators to reflect on the value of arts education and its impact on future generations. Bridging Art and Education This initiative is developed through a partnership between Art Dubai, the Middle East's leading international art fair, and Dubai-based private investment firm A.R.M. Holding. H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of A.R.M. Holding, said: 'Our patronage of the arts goes beyond collecting, and this programme reflects our broader mission to help build vibrant, connected communities. It reinforces our commitment and ongoing support to culture and education, and to empowering the next generation of leaders, cultural ambassadors, changemakers, and creative thinkers who will shape the UAE's future.' Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai, said: 'Supporting children early in their creative journey is incredibly important and something we care deeply about. We are proud to work with artists, schools and students to produce world-class programmes to inspire and encourage the next generation of creative minds. Dubai is a global city, welcoming people from all over the world. We are proud to be working with two artists - one local, one international - for the first time. This initiative gives young minds the chance to experience art in new ways - through discovery, expression, and meaningful connection – which lies at the core of this long-term partnership.' Artists' Perspectives "Water is central to life, and through this project. We're inviting children to treat it as a creative medium that reflects their thoughts, hopes, and questions about the future. As artists, we can guide the process, but it is the children who will show us new ways of thinking. It will reflect on their relationship with water—how it shapes their homes, environment, and culture. The programme offers a unique creative lens through which we can reimagine how we care for our shared world,' said Alatise, who is a leading voice in African contemporary art. Lootah, whose work explores meditative expression through patterns and the interpersonal relationships between mother and child, said: 'As both an artist and educator, I believe in art's power to foster connections between people and with the environment. In the UAE, water holds deep cultural significance, with traditional transportation once centred around the Al Khor (the creek). Through this programme, art becomes a gateway for children to explore and share values, helping them reflect on water as a precious resource. We bring these ideas into classrooms in an engaging, thought-provoking way through workshops that encourage reflection and inspire a deeper appreciation for the environment.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Art Dubai. Notes to Editors: Press Kit - A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme 2025 ( Media Contacts: Art Dubai International: David Field david@ +44(0)7843673393 UAE / MENA: Sheila Tobias sheila@ +971 55 567 4158 About A.R.M. Holding: A.R.M. Holding is a private investment firm and a multi-focused economic enabler investing in partnerships that reinforce Dubai's position as the global capital of culture and innovation. It collaborates to that end with Art Dubai on several initiatives that foster young talent and creativity in the emirates. The A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme brings together artists and designers to closely collaborate with schools across the UAE through bespoke workshops. It provides school children from ages 5 -17 with important opportunities to grow and develop their interest and understanding of the arts through interactions with international artists and introductions to a wide range of art and design practices. To learn more about A.R.M. Holding, please visit: About Art Dubai: Founded in 2007, Art Dubai is the most significant global art gathering in the Middle East. A catalyst for the rapid growth of the region's art scene and creative economy, Art Dubai provides an important gateway for discovery, learning and exchange, championing galleries and artists from less-represented geographies. Each year Art Dubai spotlights around 120 contemporary, modern and digital galleries from over 40 countries. The gallery programme is accompanied by artist commissions, an ambitious education programme and the most extensive talks programming of any international art fair. Art Dubai reflects the robust growth and spirit of its home city – a cosmopolitan hub of innovation and the Gulf region's financial and commercial hub. With over 40 commercial galleries, global auction houses, and a rapidly expanding private and corporate collector base, it is also the centre of the region's art market. Art Dubai works in partnership with government and business to develop and deliver ambitious long-term initiatives to support the long-term growth of the UAE's cultural sector. These include Dubai Collection - the first institutional art collection for the city of Dubai; Dubai Public Art, a multi-year and city-wide public realm commissioning programme; the most extensive cultural education programmes in UAE schools, developed in partnership with A.R.M. Holding, and Campus Art Dubai, which supports the next generation of cultural leaders through professional development, training and mentoring. Art Dubai is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Art Dubai is held in partnership with A.R.M. Holding. The fair is sponsored by Swiss Wealth Management Group Julius Baer. Art Dubai's exclusive high jewellery and watch partner is Piaget. Culturally driven lifestyle developer HUNA Living is a partner of Art Dubai. The Dubai Culture&Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is the fair's strategic partner. Madinat Jumeirah is the home of Art Dubai.
Emirates Woman
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
Art Dubai plays a pivotal role in transforming the region's art scene
Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director at Art Dubai, on how Art Dubai creates high-impact art. Can you elaborate on the initiative that is Art Dubai? Art Dubai is the most significant global art gathering in the Middle East, and for the 2025 edition, the fair will spotlight around 120 galleries from over 40 countries across our four distinct gallery sections including Contemporary, Digital, Modern and Bawwaba. From performances, installations and experimental commissions from the likes of Mohammed Kazem, Héctor Zamora and Ania Soliman to talks as part of the Global Art Forum and the Digital Art Summit, there's so much to see and experience during the fair from April 18 to April 2025 and preview days on 16 and 17 April. Plus, we support the arts and culture community year-round with many initiatives including the A.R.M Holding Children's Programme and our professional development programme Campus Art Dubai, where we support aspiring art professionals. How has Art Dubai evolved since it first began? From our beginnings nearly 20 years ago, we have evolved into more than a week-long art fair. Art Dubai is now a major meeting point for the global art community of artists, collectors and institutions. As an incubator for a new generation of artists, we embrace an institutional responsibility to lead in innovation and thought leadership with arts and culture. Since we launched, we remain committed to giving a platform to artists from lesser represented geographies of the world, and approximately 76 percent of this year's programme is drawn from MENA / South Asia. Can you expand on the key highlights from this year's programme? Art Dubai is always evolving, and 2025 marks an evolution of the fair. First up, we're launching a new programme with Alserkal Avenue, kicking off with renowned Mexican artist Héctor Zamora. Known for his bold, site-specific works, he's bringing to Art Dubai a powerful performance exploring transformation and liberation; the performances at the fair will be complemented by a site-specific installation at Alserkal Avenue. We are also continuing to place strong emphasis on digital art and the impact of new technologies on creative practice. In the Digital Summit, themed 'After the Technological Sublime', under the direction of Art Dubai Digital 2025 curator Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, we will unpack how AI and digital art are pushing creative boundaries. We're expecting one of the most dynamic editions yet, with bigger ideas, deeper conversations and even more ways to experience Art Dubai. Our Modern section offers something quite different than anywhere else in the world and this year sees its expansion to Latin American for the first time. Venezuelan artist Darío Pérez Flores' (Mark Hachem) work will reflect common concerns and empathies between Latin America and West Asia and North Africa. 'Art Dubai has established itself as an important institutional platform and a catalyst for Dubai's cultural economy' 'The New New Normal' is a thought-provoking theme for this year's Global Art Forum. What key discussions and ideas will it explore? This year the Global Art Forum will examine how constant change reshapes our world, making everyday life feel as unusual and unpredictable as science fiction. Throughout its nearly 20 years, the Global Art Forum has always been ahead of its time and is a hub for cultural dialogue and innovation. This year, it's commissioned by Shumon Basar and curated by Y7 – the UK-based post-disciplinary duo Hannah Cobb and Declan Colquitt – so expect sharp insights and big ideas from some of today's leading thinkers, technologists, artists and forecasters. In an era of rapid digital transformation, how does Art Dubai ensure that technological innovation is balanced with artistic integrity? From early digital art pioneers to new emerging names, Art Dubai Digital has shown the evolution in this art form over the years. We are seeing huge growth in digital art with the artists expanding our very understanding and definition of contemporary art and culture. You will see pieces examining how artists and creative practitioners are working with advanced technologies particularly AI, virtual reality and augmented reality, interrogating the key environmental, social and political challenges of our time. How does Art Dubai play a pivotal role in the UAE as an incubator for creative talent? Art Dubai is a catalyst and anchor point for the rapid growth of the UAE and the wider region's art scene and creative economy which has evolved into a meeting point for international art collectors and the creative community. The development of Dubai's cultural scene, the dynamism of the city and the rich communities of artists and creatives that call Dubai home, is reflected in the eclectic line-up at this year's fair. We have 23 Dubai galleries and some inspiring local artists including Sara Al Haddad, Sara Ahli and Faris AbdullaAlshafar at Aisha Alabbar; and Hassan Sharif and Mohammed Kazem at Gallery Isabelle. Outside of the fair, the Dubai Collection, an initiative of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and managed by Art Dubai, is the first institutional art collection for the emirate of Dubai and is an initiative that further enhances Dubai's artistic influence and reach. Containing over 1000 pieces of work, the Collection includes artwork from private collections based in Dubai and the wider region. Whilst maintaining focus on the Middle East, the Dubai Collection is an international collection with no geographical restrictions, and artists from more than 40 countries are currently represented. How will this year's summit change the way we think about art and technology? From early digital art pioneers to new emerging names, Art Dubai Digital has shown the evolution in this art form over the years. When we launched this new gallery section four years ago, Art Dubai was the first and only major international fair with a dedicated digital section. This year's Art Dubai Digital Summit will offer thought-provoking conversations on ecological activism in media art, the hidden biases in artificial intelligence, and what the future holds for museums in an increasingly digital world. Through public talks, lectures and breakout sessions, museum directors, curators, artists and tech innovators will share insights on where we're headed and what's at stake. This year we have several digital installations and hybrid works – phygital or works that are digital but in contemporary sections – showing how artists are integrating digital elements in traditional art pieces and changing how we think of the two mediums. For example, Egyptian/Polish/American artist Ania Soliman and her work Kahrabaa, takes its title from the Arabic for 'electricity'. As a large-scale, site-specific installation, it traces complex interconnections between technology, nature, and memory and presents five-metre-high canvases that blend technological and organic motifs captured in a series of performative acts involving artificial and real plants being thrown onto the canvases. Pioneering kinetic sculptor BREAKFAST will debut a large-scale interactive installation, Carbon Wake, and this first-of-its-kind kinetic artwork will take centre stage at the main entrance of the Digital gallery section. Alfred Basbous, Le mysterieux, Ed.8, 1991, Bronze, 46.5 x 21 x 16 cm, Courtesy of Alfred Basbous Foundation How do you see blockchain, AI, and immersive technology influencing the future of Art Dubai Digital? Curator Gonzalo's theme for the 2025 Art Dubai Digital section 'After the Technological Sublime', brings together artists and creatives who are using digital technologies to address the challenges that humanity and the planet are facing today. Through their pieces, the artists raise critical questions and demonstrate the role digital technology has today and in the future. This year we have focused on artists active in artificial intelligence, virtual, and augmented reality, and other technological advances to interrogate some of the key environmental, social, and political challenges of our time. How is Art Dubai shaping the region's role in the global art conversation? Art Dubai remains the most significant global art gathering in the Middle East, and our regional and international reach providesartists and galleries a global platform to connect with international audiences, fostering dialogue and new opportunities on a global scale. This year, we have 67 cities represented from across 39 countries. Over the years, Art Dubai has established itself as an important institutional platform and a catalyst for Dubai's cultural economy, playing a key role in shaping its artistic landscape. This is The Design Issue – tell us more about art that has design appeal? The presentations for this year will encompass a diverse variety of mediums – from textile-based art, marble and resin sculptures, to glass wall pieces. French artist Joana Vasconcelos, whose textile sculptures are part of an ongoing series wrapping animals in handmade cotton crochet and five needle lace, is inspired by the ceramic's artwork of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (1846 – 1905), one of the most renowned Portuguese artists of the 19th century. Thomas Brambilla Gallery is bringing American sculptor, Bryan Hunt, and his series of wall pieces to this year's edition of Art Dubai. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
