The regional fashion and art world’s ears are pricked as Van Cleef & Arpels (Instagram), in collaboration with Tashkeel (Instagram), announce the open call for the milestone tenth edition of the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize. This prestigious competition, themed “Inspiring Winds,” seeks to discover and nurture the brightest design talents across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The theme “Inspiring Winds” is a metaphor for freedom, strength, and enchantment, resonating deeply with the cultural heritage of the Middle East. In regions where the desert and sea converge, winds like naseem, harmattan, khamsin, sumoom, and shamal are not just climatic phenomena, but integral elements of the local lore and lifestyle. This edition of the prize invites applicants to encapsulate these dynamic and culturally rich winds through contemporary, functional design.
Van Cleef & Arpels and Tashkeel challenge participants to blend creativity with functionality in their submissions. The competition stands as a testament to the commitment of both organizations to foster the growth of new talent, providing them with a platform to showcase their innovative ideas and designs.
Alessandro Maffi, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East & India, said, “Van Cleef & Arpels is extremely proud to announce the landmark tenth edition of the Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize. The Maison’s partnership with Tashkeel has provided emerging artists in the Middle East with the essential support that designers and innovators need to become successful professionals. As one of the region’s longest running prizes, the Emergent Designer Prize has set the benchmark for nurturing design talent by shedding light on the wealth of creativity thriving across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. We look forward to receiving innovative and visionary submissions for this year’s theme of “Inspiring Winds.””
Karam Hoar, Marketing and Communications Manager at Tashkeel, added, “Since 2013, Tashkeel and Van Cleef & Arpels have organised this competition to nurture and promote emerging talent. Year after year, we see the extraordinary wealth of creativity and depth of talent at work across this region. This tenth edition will be a celebration of the success of so many of the creative professionals who have taken part, as well as an important showcase for a new emerging talent. We are delighted to partner with Van Cleef & Arpels once again to bring exciting upcoming designers to the world’s attention.”
The jury for the 2024 Emergent Designer Prize is a blend of regional and international design luminaries, including Emirati designer Abdalla AlMulla, Paris-based Lebanese designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, Jordan’s Rana Beiruti, Qatar’s Shaikha Al-Sulaiti, and Talib Choudhry, Head of Editorial Content at Architectural Digest Middle East. These experts bring a wealth of experience and insight, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive evaluation of the submissions.
Sustainability is at the heart of the competition, with a focus on ethical and local sourcing of materials, and minimizing our carbon footprint. The challenge is open to all artists and designers residing in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, and excludes jewellery and watch designs.
The winning designer will not only receive a cash prize of AED 30,000 for the production of their design but will also enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris, visiting L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels to delve deeper into the world of jewellery creation and watchmaking.
How to Participate
The open call is now live, with a deadline of 21 April 2024, 10 PM GST.
Details about entry requirements and submissions can be found on Tashkeel’s official website and an informative bilingual presentation on their YouTube channel later this month. Stay tuned for further news.
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