Abraaj Group Art Prize

Established by The Abraaj Group, a leading investor in growth markets, to support contemporary artists of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, The Abraaj Group Art Prize has invested in and given resources to artists to develop their practice by realising a unique project. Over the past six years, 26 projects have been realised, which now form The Abraaj Group Art Prize Collection; and are regularly loaned to acclaimed international institutions; offering an overview of the creative potential and talent of the MENASA region.

The award affords the winner the opportunity of developing an ambitious project which wouldn’t otherwise be possible. The accompanying exhibition is a platform for recognising particularly notable artists in the region and for promoting their work on the international
stage that is Art Dubai.

The Abraaj Group Art Prize 2015 winning artist, shortlisted artists and guest curator are:

Winner: Yto Barrada (Moroccan, b.1971, Paris)
Shortlist: Sarnath Banerjee, Setareh Shahbazi, Mounira Al Solh
Curator: Omar Kholeif

The exhibition for the Abraaj Group Art Prize will run alongside Art Dubai, in March 2015.

Alongside the prize, The Abraaj Group this year launched The Abraaj RCA Innovation Scholarship, thereby broadening and deepening their support for the arts. For the next five years, each year, the Scholarship supports five exceptional post-graduate students from Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The Scholarship will cover full international tuition fees to study at a Master’s level for two years at the Royal College of Art in London.