Introduction The Young Artist of the Year 2008, with its award that carries the name of the late artist Hassan Hourani, is the fifth that the A. M. Qattan Foundation's Arts and Culture Progamme (CAP) has organized since the programme was launched in 2000. What is remarkable about this year's Award is its openness in including artists from the occupied Golan Heights. Five out of the twelve artists participating in the second stage of the competition are from Golan. In 2006, CAP decided to give young artists and writers from Golan the same opportunities that were available for their Palestinian peers. What also distinguishes this fifth round is that it presents a new wave of young artists who, except for one, have not participated in any of the previous Awards. The inclusion of artists from Ramallah, Jerusalem, Tulkarem, Jenin, Gaza, Galilee and Golan assert the status of this competition as a framework able to embrace and generate creative actions and initiatives and within which to present new, fresh and inspiring aesthetic propositions that can transcend the difficulties of the surrounding reality and its proliferating artificial barriers. The twin cities of Ramallah and Al Bireh will again be celebrating twelve exhibition projects in different venues and spaces that will be open to the public on the 15th October. The works on display vary in their use of painting, sculpture, installation, performance and video art and deal with issues relevant to the artists' political and social contexts without compromising aesthetics or artistic quality. A jury of artists, art critics and curators from Palestine and abroad will evaluate the artworks, meet with the artists and decide on the first three winners. Three awards, amounting to 12,000 dollars in total, will be presented at the award giving ceremony at the Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque on the 24th of October. The audience will also have the opportunity to vote for their choice of the best work in a popular vote. The Foundation has recently initiated the Ismael Shamout Award in recognition of the significant role of the late artist, Ismael Shamout, and his contribution to the development of the contemporary visual arts in Palestine. Nominations have been received for this Award, which will be presented by the Jury at the award ceremony on the 24th October.
As ever, the 2008 Young Artists' Award exhibition and programme is the outcome of the collective efforts of various individuals and organizations to each of whom we extend our sincere thanks. We are grateful to the participating artists and the members of the jury. Special thanks are due to the International Academy of Art Palestine, the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Al Mahattah Gallery, and the Ramallah Municipality for hosting the artworks in their spaces and venues as well as the Qattan Foundation's own premises. Many thanks to Nisreen Naffa’ and Amal Barghouti for their continuous efforts and for all my colleagues at the Qattan Foundation for their help and support. We hope you will all manage to see these diverse art works, and that you will find this visual art event enjoyable and inspiring.
Mahmoud Abu Hashhash Director, Culture and Arts Programme |