Dubai Culture Launches 10th Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition

With an aim to support Islamic economy and create an educational and cultural platform for the younger generations to empower the creative industries in Dubai, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the launch of the 10th Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition, DIACE.

The exhibition themed ‘A heritage honouring the letter and pen’, is marking the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, reflecting the harmonious spectrum of different cultures coexisting in the UAE. It will take place from 27th April to 5th May 2019, and will be concluding event for "Dubai Art Season 2019".

Over 50 international calligraphers will showcase a wide range of sophisticated manifestations of Islamic art and culture, all under one roof at WAFI - Dubai.

Abdul Rahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said, "The exhibition seeks to achieve several goals, particularly promoting Dubai as an incubator for this art. It aims to highlight the role of calligraphy in supporting the creative economy of the Emirate and to strengthen efforts to promote the Arabic language and expand its scope of its use to cover all fields. DIACE is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has launched and sponsored several successful initiatives to preserve and share the Arabic language."

"This event, which aims to highlight the aesthetics of this art to the global audience, also promotes the idea of strategic partnerships with cultural and artistic industries locally, regionally and globally, in support of the UAE Soft Power Strategy. DIACE underpins collaborations between government entities, and the private sector and encourages cultural exchange among artists from around the world, creating an interactive platform for emerging artists and visitors alike, to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding about the art of calligraphy," he added.

Dr. Salah Al Qassim, Advisor to Dubai Culture, and Head of DIACE Committee, said, "As we celebrate the tenth edition of this exhibition, we hope our local talents will find a new prospect, by engaging with international artists and learning about their creative arts. The event will shed light on the use of calligraphy in modern designs and allow the artists to adapt it in a way that it resonates with the modern artistic cultures of Arab and Islamic societies. Main aim is to ensure that Arabic calligraphy reaches the largest number of cultures across the world, and manages to preserve its classic authenticity at the same time. We hope that this year’s edition will add to the success of the preceding editions, and help further the thriving cultural landscape of the Emirate."