The recipients were chosen from a diverse group of multi-disciplinary creatives, including filmmakers, writers, curators, painters, designers, performance artists and others from across the UAE.
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in partnership with Art Jameel, has revealed the 10 recipients of the Research and Practice Platform grants.
Now in its second edition, the platform focuses on supporting projects that engage with the climate emergency in theme and process. The 2023 edition offers micro-grants ranging from AED 3,600 ($1,000) to AED 22,000 ($6,000) to individual artists and collectives. This initiative aligns with the Year of Sustainability under the theme ‘Today for Tomorrow’ and is launched in collaboration with Al Quoz Creative Zone.
Selected through an open call in October 2023, the winners represent a diverse group of UAE-based creatives, including filmmakers, writers, curators, painters, designers and performance artists.
The selected recipients are Fatema Al Fardan, Zara Mahmood, Pauline Doctolero, Akari Yasuda, Zahra Jewanjee, Abubaker Eltom, Marvarid Qasem, Mayssa Kanaan, Kathryn Legaspi and Datecrete Studio. Their projects span a variety of mediums, including pottery, filmmaking, painting, research, community programmes, and public art installations, addressing topics such as water scarcity, pollution, botany, erosion and oral history.
Speaking about the recipient, Khulood Khoory, Director of Projects & Events at Dubai Culture, affirmed the Authority’s commitment to developing skills and encouraging certain practices to ultimately achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and said: “Through its diverse projects and initiatives, Dubai Culture seeks to provide creatives and entrepreneurs with all the tools that enable them to present innovative ideas and adopt advanced solutions in cultural and artistic fields, and the Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform grants provide them a means to address the climate crisis.”
Nora Razian, Art Jameel Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes, added: “This is the second edition of the Research and Practice Platform, supported by Dubai Culture, and marks a joint interest in and commitment to activating the role of the arts in raising awareness and engaging the broader public in sustainability. The Open Call launched last year, in line with the UAE Year of Sustainability and the lead-up to COP28 in Dubai. We see the influence of these milestone events reflected in the breadth of innovative ideas we received from young, UAE-based creatives, who are deeply engaged with local ecological concerns. We look forward to seeing these ambitious projects come to life over the next year.”
The Research and Practice Platform builds on the success of the 2020 edition, which was launched in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector. This second edition reaffirms Dubai Culture and Art Jameel’s commitment to nurturing the UAE’s artistic and cultural landscape.
