Middle Eastern market increasingly important

More than 60 galleries, well over half from outside the region, will exhibit at Art Dubai 2010, open from March 17 to 20 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE.

In a gallery survey respondents considered the Middle Eastern market to play a very significant role in the contemporary art industry, with 75 per cent indicating that Dubai is perceived as the key platform for the art market in the region and Art Dubai, an essential component for meeting new collectors.

“Despite the tough economic conditions of the last 18 months, the Middle East art market has demonstrated its resilience in general and Dubai has proved its importance as the principle platform for the contemporary art market in the region,” said John Martin, director and co-founder of Art Dubai.

The fair will also include the unveiling of the artwork by this year’s recipients of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize.

The three artist/curator teams will reveal their winning projects, enhancing their global reputation and widening their international network. Whereas in previous years participating galleries were as interested in finding new artists to represent as much as direct sales, in 2010 the survey reveals that galleries will now be concentrating more effort on representing their existing artists and focusing on building their regional collector base.

This year more galleries will be presenting solo shows of emerging and established artists. In 2010 there will also be a new area within the fair devoted to museum-quality painting and sculpture from the 1950s to the 1970s. Bidoun Projects will curate a programme focussing on upcoming talent from the Middle East and beyond.