Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and building on the exemplary success of its fifth and the largest edition at Art Dubai 2017, The Cultural Office has announced that Sheikha Manal Little Artists Program will now be held throughout the year offering a series of workshops to nurture the artistic creativity of children and teenagers and encourage them to follow their passions in art.
As part of the extended Program, the “Artists in Schools” initiative will collaborate with public and private schools across the UAE, targeting the age group of 5 -17, to conduct workshops led by various local and international artists and designers throughout the year. It will also feature a variety of popular projects focusing on different forms of art education for children.
Commenting on the announcement, Mona Bin Kalli, Director of The Cultural Office, said, “The extension of Sheikha Manal Little Artists Program’s duration reflects the belief of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to expand the access to art education for children and teenagers in the UAE. The enthusiasm among children and parents and the huge success that the Program has witnessed over the years and specially this year, encouraged the decision of making it available throughout the year. This will provide opportunities for increased number of children and teenagers to gain access to tailor-made workshops in order to nurture their creativity and expand their learning horizons in field of art.”
She added, “The Program extension is a testament of The Cultural Office’s longstanding commitment to further the development of the UAE’s cultural landscape by encouraging children and teenagers to excel in the field of art and tap into their artistic potential.”
She highlighted, “Art appreciation should start at a young age and fostering this talent is essential to build the cultural scene for future generations in the UAE. Keeping this in broad view, the Program combines interactive play, tours and art education sessions to promote children’s interest in creating, experiencing and enjoying art.”
During its latest edition at Art Dubai, the Sheikha Manal Little Artists Program was attended by over 700 participants, which is double the number of participation in its previous edition in 2016. It also witnessed the launch of the largest edition of its “Artist in Schools” initiative which was held across six schools in Dubai offering a unique educational opportunity for school children, encouraging them to engage with and excel in the arts.
Since its official launch during Art Dubai in 2013, the Sheikha Manal Little Artist Program has focused on creating a strong platform for early leaning years of children, with artist-led workshops and sessions conducted by experts, where they can interact with art and develop their creativity and imagination.
