A new fund managed by Art Dubai and overseen by the UAE government aims to boost the Emirate’s presence in the global art market by offering homegrown galleries a cash incentive to participate in international art fairs.
The new International Art Fairs Grant was launched earlier this year by the government’s Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Under the scheme, eligible galleries in Dubai can apply for the grant to support up to 50% of stand costs at an international art fair.
A spokesperson for Art Dubai says: “Any gallery that has a space in Dubai and represents either Emirati artists or artists who have been based in Dubai for at least three years [are eligible]. This also leaves scope for galleries and digital galleries without a physical presence to apply. They can apply to the fund once they have been accepted into a specific international fair.”
Galleries can make one application a year to the scheme. The Art Newspaper understands that overseas galleries based in Dubai also qualify for the scheme as long as the percentage of Emirati artists displayed on the booth fits the artist eligibility criteria.
A ‘pivotal player in global art landscape’
The organisers hope that exposure abroad at fairs will ensure that Dubai, still the main hub for the regional art market, “continues to be a pivotal player in the global art landscape”.
Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, the chief executive of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, says in a statement that “we hope to elevate the profiles of our celebrated galleries and artists on an international platform while contributing to the global discourse on contemporary art”.
Yasmin Atassi, the director of the established Dubai venue Green Art Gallery, tells The Art Newspaper: “We are aware of this fund and we welcome it very much. Up until now, UAE-based galleries, unlike their international counterparts, had no national or government support they could apply for to help support the participation in international fairs. We work with several Emirati artists and we plan to apply to the fund when we are applying to the fairs.”
Fairs have long been skewed toward particular geographies—this fund is a push in the right directionMaliha Tabari, Tabari Artspace
Maliha Tabari, the founder of the Tabari Artspace gallery in Dubai, says Emirati artists will benefit. “Fairs have long been skewed toward particular geographies—this fund is a push in the right direction, it shows that the UAE is an international player with its approach and we’re optimistic about where it might lead,” she says.
William Lawrie, the co-founder of the Dubai gallery Lawrie Shabibi, also welcomes the fund, although he notes that for events like Frieze Sculpture in London, production and installation costs are the gallery’s main obstacle to participation rather than the relatively smaller participation fees.
