RCA Secret Dubai

So what’s the secret? All of the postcards are displayed anonymously so you have to guess which artist or designer has made the work before you decide to hand over your cash.

Artists may choose to paint, draw, sketch, photograph or even produce a 3D sculpture.

Over its 21 years RCA Secret has boasted a roll call of legendary artists and designers who have donated work including Grayson Perry, Paula Rego, Julian Opie, David Bailey, Jeremy Deller, Sir James Dyson, Sir Paul Smith, Christopher Bailey, Orla Kiely, musician Jarvis Cocker, film director Mike Leigh, Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, and architect Zaha Hadid.

‘The flourishing art scene in Dubai is incredibly exciting,’ Dean of the Royal College of Art’s School of Fine Art, Professor Juan Cruz said. ‘As we step outside London for the very first time, Dubai is the perfect place to bring one of the RCA’s most cherished and fruitful exhibitions.’

‘We are thrilled to be bringing RCA Secret to Dubai and to be cementing our relationship with the region,’ added Dr Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art.

‘Education has long been a key pillar of our non-commercial programming and we are thrilled to be working with RCA Secret, raising funds to develop the College’s International Scholarship Fund and RCA courses in Dubai,’ said Antonia Carver, Fair Director, Art Dubai.

Up to 1,000 unique artworks – created by some of the world’s leading artists and designers along with rising RCA students and alumni – will be available to buy, during the weeklong exhibition, for only 500 Dirhams each. The UAE and Middle East’s thriving art scenes will also be represented, with contributions by local and regional artists and designers. Proceeds will go to the College’s Scholarship Fund, helping talented students at formative stages in their careers, and also contribute to establishing and running RCA courses in Dubai, which will in turn nurture emerging local talent.