Art Dubai 2010 welcomes over 70 galleries from 30 countries and an extensive programme of collateral events including the Global Art Forum, the Abraaj Capital Art Prize, special projects curated by Bidoun Projects and The Poetry of Time presented by Van Cleef & Arpels. Art Dubai has become the essential gathering place for collectors, artists and art professionals from across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond.
Launched in March 2007, the Global Art Forum gathers leading arts professionals to discuss pressing
issues that affect art today and that define its future. Under the banner of “Crucial Moments”, this year’s
Forum addresses the practical outcomes and theoretical concerns of key themes shaping our contemporary
culture.
Supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Forum’s four-day programme
commences in Doha on 15 March at the Museum of Islamic Art and will be hosted by the Qatar Museum
Authority. The Forum offers thought-provoking concepts, such as imagining an ideal future art school,
exploring the global trend for temporary museums alongside intimate interviews with international
superstar artists, including Indian painter M.F. Husain and Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi. The day also marks
the debut of Shumon Basar and Haig Aivazian’s 5000 Friends After the Rolodex, a performative mapping
project that traces the progression of the Global Art Forum’s 4-day run.
From 17 to 19 March, Global Art Forum returns to its home at Madinat Beach, Art Dubai for three more
days of lively conversation.
Day 2 on Wednesday 17 March begins with a discussion centred on cultural practitioners who feature
historical and archival aspects in their work. This panel, composed of top artists and curators, features 2010
Abraaj Capital Art Prize recipient Hala Elkoussy, whose winning project will be on display at Art Dubai.
Wednesday’s programme will also address an impending crisis in global arts writing, with international
writers and editors exploring the very real challenges facing media today. Meanwhile, in what promises to
be an inspiring discussion, three of the original movers from the vibrant art scene of 1970s Tehran, Tony
Shafrazi, Fereydoun Ave and Kamran Diba will reminisce about the days of artistic energy and innovation
and the legacy they exert on today's generation of Iranian artists.
Day three, Thursday 18 March, spotlights current trends in art patronage, with a keynote address entitled
Building Regional Patronage in a Post-Crisis Moment by noted art patron Omar Ghobash, UAE
Ambassador to Russia. Alongside Mr Ghobash’s address, Thursday also sees two panels dedicated to both
public and private patronage, highlighting the latest patterns in collectors’ markets from a global array of
expertise including Maria Baibakova, Moscow; Dr Farhad Farjam, Dubai; Mohammed Afkhami, Dubai;
Alistair Hicks, London and Michael Danoff, New York.
The day also features a rare opportunity to witness the legendary sculptor El Anatsui discuss his
astonishing work and career in an intimate conversation with curator Okwui Enwezor. This is followed by
an intriguing debate over perceptions of art in Palestine, a 'Palestine Syndrome', questioning how
preconceptions and prejudices affect the region's art and how artists within the country relate to each other
across geographical and ethnic divides.
The fourth and final day, Friday March 19, starts with another Modernist moment, this time recalling the
exciting world of 1970s New York, when artists Vito Acconci, Dennis Oppenheim and Alice Aycock
collaborated at 112 Green Street, a seminal space that pioneered performance and installation art practises.
Friday’s programme revisits the notion of patronage, through a fascinating conversation with Don and
Mera Rubell, regarded as two of the most prolific and prescient collectors of the past forty years. They are
followed by a panel scrutinizing the relationship between patrons and institutions, and how those
relationships will shape the growth of museums in the Middle East over the next few years.
The 2010 Global Art Forum will conclude with a final presentation by 5000 Friends After the Rolodex, as
Shumon Basar and Haig Aivazian discuss the outcomes of their performative mapping project.
Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer at Dubai Culture, said the Global Art Forum serves as an
effective bridge between the arts community and the public, bringing them together for meaningful
dialogue.
“Contemporary culture is defined by the arts, and in today’s interlinked world, the arts community
globally faces new challenges and opportunities. The Global Art Forum will be a thought-starter in
addressing current and emerging cultural realities, providing the artists and the general public with new
insights into the local and global cultural scene. The Forum underscores the role of Dubai Culture in
educating the community on the arts, promoting inter-cultural dialogue and encouraging creativity.”
Supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Global Art Forum is free of charge and is hosted
by the Qatar Museum Authority. The National is the official media partner of the Forum.
Tickets are now on sale for Art Dubai through http://www.timeouttickets.com. They will also be available at the
door during Art Dubai.
For further in formation contact:
E-mail: eileen.wallis@theportsmouthgroup.com
Opening Wednesday 17 March 2010, 16-22
Different venues, Dubai
Thursday 18 March 16 - 22
Friday 19 March 12 - 22
Saturday 20 March 12 - 18
Tickets cost 50AED and are available on the door