Sharjah Ladies Club, SLC, a branch of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, has launched the Huwiyyati Award for painting and photography.

Among the SLC’s numerous initiatives for the cultural growth and overall development of women in Sharjah and the UAE, the Noon Arts Award is one of its finest. Titled, "Huwiyyati," which translates into English as "My Identity," the award will take place for the first time this year and was created to celebrate the independence and raw individuality of an artist.

The award features the two categories of painting and photography, and the SLC is now accepting applications until 10th September, on their website, www.slc.ae. Every female UAE national and resident between the ages of 18 and 40 are eligible to compete. Prospective applicants can learn about the terms and conditions of participating by visiting the website.

The award is organised by the Club’s arts education facility, Collage Talent Centre. The facility offers a variety of arts classes, including pottery, ceramic flower arrangements and all forms of drawing, as well as ballet, piano, cooking, etiquette and other artforms.

"Many women often hide or even give up their artistic abilities and individuality, to fit into the social constructs that define our existence. This sometimes distorts the raw and unique qualities of their personality, dissolving the very essence of what truly defines them. The Huwiyyati Award was conceived to protect and nurture these qualities," said Shaikha Alsuwaidi, Manager of the Collage Talent Centre.

"Through the Noon Arts Award competition, our aim is to encourage women artists to explore the important questions of what does it really mean to be an individual, and how the world around them plays a role in shaping their personalities, preferences and lives as artists," she added.

Under the categories of painting and photography, there are two further subcategories, notably the Noon Artist Award, with a prize of AED10,000 for more established artists in both fields. The qualifying age group for this category is 25 to 40 years old. The other subcategory is the Noon Rising Star Award, with a prize of AED5,000. This award will recognise new talents in painting and photography, between the ages of 18 and 24.

The winning artworks will be displayed at the SLC’s Noon Gallery from 24th to 30th October, 2017.

Source: Wam