Following the official opening, Sheikh Hamdan toured the art fair’s diverse pavilions and galleries, included Art Dubai Contemporary halls and Art Dubai Modern, featuring artists who proved influential in the 20th century, particularly through the vibrant modern period of the 1940s to 1980s. Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Essa Kazim, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development Sami Ahmad Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director General of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Helal Saeed Almarri and a number of senior officials accompanied Sheikh Hamdan during his tour.
Sheikh Hamdan also visited the booth of The Cultural Office, which is displaying the projects under its umbrella, including The Sheikha Manal Art Exchange Programme, the Sheikha Manal Little Artists Programme and the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award. Sheikh Hamdan also met with local Emirati artists displaying their artworks in the fair.
The agenda includes artist-led workshops for pupils at two Dubai schools in the lead up to Art Dubai. The workshops were supported by UAE-based apprentices, Asmaa El Afifi, Alia Lootah, Isabella E. Toledo, Zahia Abdul and Maryam Saffarini and led by London-based artist Polly Brannan who will also lead a programme of workshops throughout Art Dubai titled the "Mobile Variety Club" - which will focus on children and their families creating their own artistic performances such as comedy sketches, songs, dance, poetry readings, puppetry and theatre – using different props, including costumes, posters and visuals from their own creations. Discovery tours will also be guided by UAE-based and international artists and the workshops will consist of six zones where participants create their own production with the help of the lead and apprentice artists.
Concluding his tour, Dubai Crown Prince welcomed participants in the international art fair, wishing them a successful even.
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