Calling all female artists: UAE arts award opens for entries

Now being held for the fourth consecutive year, the Noon Arts Award is open for submissions. Organized by the Collage Talent Center at the Sharjah Ladies Club, this award is presented to UAE-based female artists who are working in the fields of painting, photography, and digital artworks.

This year the theme of the competition is the phrase “Because I can,” chosen in recognition of the difficult times the global community has lived through as a result of COVID-19. The artworks submitted need to showcase the positive impact the artist has made through supporting, inspiring or offering hope to others, or overcoming obstacles and challenges in their own lives.

Fatima Alnaqbi, assistant manager at Sharjah Ladies Club, said: “This year the Noon Arts Award is all about recognizing those who have made a positive impact on the world around them. We want to celebrate both women’s art and the power of humanity, their ability to give the light of hope to others who are suffering. ‘Because I can’ is a timeless phrase. It’s about empowerment and benefitting society, and we can’t wait to see how this phrase inspires the female artists of the UAE.”

Submissions will be accepted until October. The competition is open to all women artists based in the UAE and who are over the age of 18. Paintings, photographs, and digital artworks will all be accepted and judged on their adherence to the theme and the skill and enthusiasm they convey.

The first-place winner will receive a prize of 7,000 dirhams ($1,900), with second place earning 5,000 dirhams and third place being awarded 3,000 dirhams. There will also be a “People’s Choice” category, with the winning artist receiving a prize of 2,000 dirhams.

While this year’s competition will be held remotely due to the pandemic, this is the first time the entire event will be held online. The virtual exhibition will allow people from across the region to view the artworks from the safety of their own homes, while the awards ceremony itself will be live-streamed to avoid people congregating.