Gulf Capital – ADMAF Visual Arts Award (United Arab Emirates)

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Gulf Capital – ADMAF Visual Arts Award supports emerging Emirati artists aged 18 to 35 who demonstrate outstanding creativity and artistic excellence in visual arts. Launched in 2013, the award was established to nurture emerging Emirati talent and support the development of young artists within the UAE’s contemporary visual art landscape. It places particular emphasis on experimentation, critical engagement, and visual storytelling. The winner receives AED 10,000 and an opportunity to display their winning work at Abu Dhabi Festival 2027.

About the Gulf Capital – ADMAF Visual Arts Award

The Gulf Capital – ADMAF Visual Arts Award was created to recognise and encourage emerging Emirati artists. The programme aims to provide meaningful recognition and development opportunities to young artists while contributing to the growth of the UAE’s contemporary visual arts scene. The award focuses on artistic excellence and encourages artists to explore new ideas, experiment with creative approaches, and communicate through compelling visual storytelling. Supporting Emerging Emirati Artists The award is specifically designed for emerging Emirati artists aged 18 to 35. It provides a platform for young artists to gain recognition for their work and demonstrate their creative and technical abilities. The programme seeks to empower the next generation of Emirati artists through recognition and opportunities for artistic development. Focus on Experimentation Experimentation is an important element of the award. Artists are encouraged to explore creative approaches and develop original ways of expressing their ideas through visual art. Experimental thinking can be demonstrated through the chosen medium, artistic process, subject matter, or approach to visual storytelling. Critical Engagement The award also emphasises critical engagement. Applicants should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with their artistic ideas and show how their work communicates meaningful concepts, perspectives, or questions. Visual Storytelling Visual storytelling is another key focus of the award. Eligible works should communicate ideas or experiences through visual forms and demonstrate the artist’s ability to create an engaging and impactful artistic expression. Eligible Visual Arts Genres Eligible submissions must fall within the genre of visual arts.

Accepted forms include:

- Video. - Film. - Animation. - Photography. - Painting. - Sculpture. - Installation. Artists can submit original work within these eligible forms, provided the work meets the other requirements of the award. Original Works Created Within the Past 12 Months Submissions must be original works created within the past 12 months. Applicants should therefore ensure that the work submitted meets both requirements: it must be original and must have been created within the specified 12-month period. Individual Applications Eligible Emirati artists can apply individually. Individual applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old and submit an eligible original visual arts work. Group Applications Groups can also participate. Teams must consist of two to five people, with at least one member being Emirati. This allows artists to collaborate while ensuring that each eligible group includes Emirati representation. Who Can Apply?

The award is open to:

- Emerging Emirati artists. - Artists aged 18 to 35. - Individuals or groups of two to five people. - Groups containing at least one Emirati member. The submitted work must be original, created within the past 12 months, and fall within an eligible visual arts genre. Award Prize The winner receives a cash prize of AED 10,000. In addition to the financial award, the winner will have the opportunity to display their winning work at Abu Dhabi Festival 2027. This provides an important platform for showcasing the artist’s work to a wider audience. Selection Criteria Entries are assessed by a selection committee. The committee evaluates submissions based on several aspects of artistic and creative quality.

The main criteria include:

- Artistic merit. - Original and creative thinking. - Personal application of technical skills. - Emotional impact. Applicants should consider each of these elements when presenting their work. Artistic Merit The selection committee considers the overall artistic merit of each submission. Applicants should demonstrate a strong artistic vision and show how effectively the work communicates its intended ideas or expression. Original and Creative Thinking Originality and creative thinking are central to the assessment. Artists should demonstrate their own creative perspective and show evidence of experimentation or innovative thinking in their work. Personal Application of Technical Skills The committee also considers how artists personally apply their technical skills. This means applicants should demonstrate control and purposeful use of the techniques relevant to their chosen visual arts medium. Emotional Impact The emotional impact of the work is another important assessment factor. Artists should consider how effectively their work communicates emotion and creates a meaningful response from viewers. How to Prepare a Strong Submission Artists can strengthen their entry by presenting a work that combines artistic quality with originality and clear creative intent.

A strong submission should:

- Be an original work. - Have been created within the past 12 months. - Fall within an eligible visual arts genre. - Demonstrate artistic merit. - Show original and creative thinking. - Demonstrate the artist’s personal application of technical skills. - Create meaningful emotional impact. - Reflect experimentation or critical engagement where appropriate. - Communicate effectively through visual storytelling. - Meet the individual or group eligibility requirements. Choosing the Right Visual Arts Medium Applicants can submit work in several visual arts genres, including video, film, anim