Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum patrons of the arts awards to honour patrons at 3rd annual awards ceremony on April 9

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, will honour the patrons of the arts on April 9, 2012.

The Authority will once again shine the spotlight on the patrons of the city’s cultural and artistic scene with the third cycle of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards.

The first of its kind initiative in the Arab world, the awards were announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in March 2009 to recognise individuals and organisations that played an integral role in encouraging and strengthening the various disciplines of the arts comprising performing arts, visual arts, film, and literature. The Awards honours their financial or in-kind contributions towards the arts.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Dubai’s artistic environment has grown over the last few years, as a result of patronage towards the arts. While our artists may have the vision, it is our patrons that catalyse their growth. Dubai Culture is once again proud to honour these patrons, whose commitment has spearheaded the development of the city’s arts scene.”

In 2011, the honourees, together, contributed over AED 130 million in financial or in-kind contribution towards the cultural initiatives and events hosted in Dubai in just one year in 2010.

Honourees included an array of patrons including Dr Farhad Farjam, Abraaj Capital, TECOM Investments, Jumeirah, Emirates Airline, and Dubai Pearl, among others, while patrons from the Government sector comprised Dubai Police, Roads & Transport Authority, and Dubai Courts.  

Dubai’s diverse breadth of cultural and artistic events include: Art Week, comprising SIKKA Art Fair, Art Dubai, and Design Days Dubai; Dubai International Film Festival, Gulf Film Festival, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, which are a testament to the support from patrons towards the culture and arts scene of the city.