Organised and led by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development (MCKD), Al Burda today announced details of the Al Burda Endowment exhibition, which aims to showcase the work of 10 selected artists awarded the grant in 2018. The Al Burda Endowment is aimed at encouraging contemporary artists to continue exploring Islamic art practices and interpreting Islamic art and culture in their work.
Al Burda, which began as an Award in 2004, has evolved into a powerful platform for the celebration of Islamic art and culture across various artistic disciplines, cementing the UAE’s position as a global hub for Islamic creativity. Al Burda will return this year on the occasion of Al Mawlid Al Nabawi, Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday, with a series of festivities and a dynamic public programme.
The Al Burda Endowment, which forms an important part of the initiative, was created and launched last year as a result of a Swarm AI study revealing a need for added funding for contemporary Islamic artists. The Endowment exhibition, and its support of contemporatry artists working in the Islamic art field, is a pioneering enterprise that seeks to act as a point of intersection between traditional Islamic art and new interpretations, for the continued development of Islamic culture.
The work of Emirati artists Aljoud Lootah, Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Khalid Al Banna and Ammar Al Attar, alongside those by Saudis Dana Awartani and Nasser Al Salem, as well as Aisha Khalid (Pakistan), Zoulikha Bouabdella (Algeria), Fatima Uzdenova (Russia) and Stanley Siu (Hong Kong) will be unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art on November 21st.
Commenting on the announcement, Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development said: “Since its inception, Al Burda has grown as an initiative that champions Islamic art and culture, encompassing both classical and contemporary styles. We have adopted an interdisciplinary approach, inviting the creative community to experience the unique intersection of culture, art and design. With an aim to foster creativity while introducing younger generations to diverse disciplines of Islamic art and culture, Al Burda is a testament to our leadership’s commitment to building a greater understanding of our shared culture.”
His Excellency Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi, Assistant Under Secretary of Heritage and Arts at MCKD said: “The success of Al Burda has been evident in its reception and the engagement with the public in previous editions, and as such, we are delighted to announce its expansion, especially through the unveiling of the Endowment, which has worked extensively to support and nurture contemporary artists. The unveiling of their works at an international platform like Abu Dhabi Art reflects the Ministry’s vision to create a vibrant and sustainable cultural ecosystem in the UAE.”