Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), has recently announced the launch of the Dubai Cultural Grant program. This initiative seeks to develop Dubai’s cultural and arts sectors while providing robust support for its creative communities. The innovative program aims to offer a series of grants valued at AED180 million ($49.01 million), to be allocated over the next decade.
The Dubai Cultural Grant program aims to support and empower local talent across a wide range of cultural and creative industries, including visual and fine arts, design, performing arts, culinary arts, public art, digital arts, literature, heritage, gaming, museology, and professional development.
Program to feature 18 grants worth AED12 million
Starting this year, the program will feature 18 grants, each comprising a package of grants amounting to AED12 million in total. With that, Dubai Culture aims to further establish Dubai’s position as a global center for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
During the launch event, Sheikha Latifa stressed Dubai’s commitment to becoming a global hub for cultural expression, exchange, and innovation, a key vision under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. She added that the launch of the Dubai Cultural Grant program reflects Dubai’s progressive outlook and steadfast support for the creative community, with a focus on bolstering the cultural and creative industries that are pivotal to the city’s vibrant creative economy.
“Dubai continues to lead in supporting and empowering the cultural and arts sectors, strengthening its global standing by attracting talent and investors from around the world while nurturing entrepreneurship across various creative fields. The ‘Dubai Cultural Grant’ embodies this vision – an investment in future generations designed to ignite a cultural movement in Dubai. Knowledge, skill, and creativity lie at the heart of our progress, and our diverse cultural landscape enriches and inspires our shared journey,” she added.
Advancing Dubai’s creative economy
Sheikha Latifa added that the Dubai Cultural Grant program represents a pivotal step in supporting the creative economy by providing transformative opportunities for artists, writers, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs. The program fosters innovation and cultivates strategic partnerships, enabling creatives to bring their unique visions to life while contributing to the local economy through projects that deliver lasting and tangible value.
Dubai Cultural Grant program’s key initiatives
Some of the key initiatives under the Dubai Cultural Grant program include the Emirati Creatives in Venice Program. This program enables 10 Emirati artists to embark on a cultural exchange in Venice, exploring the Venice Biennale and engaging with global artisans and artists through diverse workshops and discussions.
Additionally, the Etihad Museum Research Grant offers researchers an annual award of AED50,000, encouraging in-depth exploration of the Emirati identity through Etihad Museum’s extensive archives, and offering a unique opportunity to engage with Dubai’s historical and cultural heritage.
The Dubai Cultural Grant program also features the Emirati Chefs Grant in partnership with ICCA Dubai. This grant supports aspiring Emirati chefs, focusing on diplomas that meet Dubai’s market demands, where participants will develop skills in traditional cuisines and innovative practices, preparing them for success in the culinary industry.
In collaboration with L’École, School of Jewelry Arts, the Talent Atelier program provides 12 Emirati designers with an immersive experience in jewelry and gemstone craftsmanship. Meanwhile, the Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform targets UAE-based artists, providing 10 grants for projects addressing environmental themes through artistic practice and exploring sustainable approaches in art.
