Dubai - Six lots sold to benefit Caspian Arts Foundation, a new educational initiative that supports art students from the region to enable them to study abroad, will be among the highlights of the part II of the Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art sale at Christie’s in Dubai on October 24, 2012. For some of the artists, who already have an international reputation and representation, this is the first time their work has been sold at an international auction. The sales on October 23 and 24 are sponsored by Zurich and will be held at the Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai with pre-sale viewing from the Sunday prior to the sale.
Nina Mahdavi, the Foundation’s founder, said: “Caspian Arts Foundation has the potential to play its part in connecting the East with the West and bridge the gap between culture, language & tradition.”
Dina Nasser-Khadivi, Christie’s Consultant in the Middle East, said: “In order to raise the maximum amount for the charity, these talented artists, some of the world’s leading international contemporary art galleries and Christie’s have all joined together for this sale. We are happy to provide a platform to help launch Caspian Art Foundation and raise funds to enable the next generation of contemporary artists to flourish.”
Caspian Arts Foundation was launched in 2011 as a non-profit organisation, sponsoring young artists and students from the Middle East & North Africa to complete their postgraduate studies in the visual arts at University of the Arts London. The first young artist to benefit from a scholarship will begin his or her studies later this year but, due to the volume of applications and interest from the MENA region, the Foundation wishes to raise funds for 5 additional full scholarships to be awarded in 2013. It is hoped that they can broaden the programme incorporating other disciplines across the arts to include the performing arts and fashion.
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