Dubai Culture hosts ‘Britain Takes Shape’ to support UK-UAE Year of Creative

In support of the UK-UAE Year of Creative Collaboration, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Dubai Culture, the emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has announced that it is hosting an exhibition of British contemporary design as part of the 2017 edition of Design Days Dubai, the region’s leading collectible design works fair.

The ‘Britain Takes Shape’ exhibition is part of a series of initiatives being promoted in 2017 to mark the Year of Creative Collaboration between the UAE and UK. Under the co-patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, the Year of Creative Collaboration aims to encourage collaboration and cooperation with government entities and the private sector. Dubai Culture is playing a key role in supporting this important initiative between the two countries.

The exhibition is part of Dubai Culture’s strategic partnership with Design Days Dubai, which is an important event of Dubai Art Season, the umbrella arts initiative of the city, which rolls out a rich calendar of city-wide activations of art across the city, interactive installations, workshops, exhibitions and live performances, amongst others.

The two-month Dubai Art Season is a definitive initiative that aims to highlight the city's global credentials in the arts scene, and brings together artists from around the world for an unmatched celebration of talent, creativity, innovation and cultural diversity.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director-General of Dubai Culture, said, "The themes of the UK-UAE Year of Creative Collaboration of inclusion, community and next generation are aligned with the UAE leadership's vision and direction that aim to promote cultural exchange and innovation. In this context, ‘Britain Takes Shape’ will serve as part of our diverse cultural and artistic programme which strengthens existing relationships and creates new ones between people, institutions and businesses to further establish the UAE as a thriving cultural destination, attract international talent, resources and visitors."

Curated by Suzanne Trocme, award-winning furniture designer, author, curator and educator, ‘Britain Takes Shape’ will feature the work of 10 pioneers of British design. All of the designs on display have been produced in the UK as one-off pieces or in batch production and are being shown for the first time in the UAE. Running alongside the exhibition will be a series of talks and workshops hosted by the British-based designers, giving unparalleled access to UAE audiences.