By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: During her visit to the exhibition held in Dubai Design District from 17 – 27 May, Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), praised the intellectual and artistic diversity and richness that was reflected in the projects participating in the ShowCACE 2021 exhibition, which was organised by the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University (ZU) to showcase the projects of the college’s graduates.
During her tour, Badri was accompanied by Khalid Al Khazraji, Vice-President of ZU; Professor Clayton MacKenzie, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at ZU; Kevin Badni, Dean of the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises; Alanood Bukhammas graphic design faculty at ZU, and student representatives from each major.
Badri praised the work of the college’s female graduates in art and design, which included 66 projects within the college’s four majors (animation, graphic design, interior design, and visual arts) and said: “The presented works embody the students’ artistic and creative experiences, characterised with thought and creativity in their university graduation projects. The works also indicate artistic maturity, standing as testament to the intensive training and directed research that the students underwent thanks to the efforts of expert academic cadres at the university. I hope that this exhibition will be the beginning of a prosperous career for them in the creative field.”
Badri added: “Such works indicate that the artistic and creative movement in Dubai and the UAE is moving in an accelerating pace towards excellence locally, regionally, and globally. We are committed to embracing these young talents, highlighting them and helping them be part of a bright future for the creative industries in the emirate to achieve our vision of strengthening Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent as well as a global capital for the creative economy.”
Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of Dubai Design District (d3), said: “We are delighted to once again be hosting an exceptional exhibition of works from ZU’s students of the College of the Arts and Creative Enterprises. As the region’s beating heart of design that’s home to thousands of brilliant minds, we care deeply about empowering the youth. Students are an important part of what makes our community special, and we will continue to encourage our business community to explore how they can deepen ties with academia to access some of the most exciting up-and-coming talent. This is important because young people are the future of our knowledge-based economy.
Al Bastaki added: “We will continue to work with our strategic partners to cement the emirate’s position as a global creative hub, in line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy. Based on the quality of craftmanship and innovation displayed today, the future looks bright for the next generation of talent.”
