20 Sep 2011

MARRAKECH ART FAIR launches the ES SAADI AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

The ES SAADI AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY ART was created this year as part of the second edition of the Marrakech international fair of modern and contemporary art 'Marrakech Art Fair', which will be held from September 30 to October 3, 2011.

This award, created at the initiative of Elisabeth Bauchet-Bouhlal and Jamil Bouhlal who preside over the destiny of Es Saadi Gardens & Resort, the fair's official partner, this award enables a new generation of artists to receive support to promote greater visibility for their artistic proposals.
Its ambition is to confirm the fame of both the nominees and the winners, allowing them to gain international recognition in the field of plastic and visual arts.

All modes of expression are concerned: sculpture, installation, photography, video, painting, etc. The winner is an artist under 45, who will have one or more of their works exhibited as part of Marrakech Art Fair 2011 at Es Saadi Palace or within the cultural circuit's exhibition 'Images Affranchies' at Bank of Morocco's former agency in Jamaa El Fna square.

In 2011, the financial allocation comes up to 15 000 Euros. This should allow the winner to make an original work which will be exhibited at Marrakech Art Fair in 2012.

Artists are selected by a jury whose composition is subject to annual change, made up of collectors, art critics and curators involved in the international art scene:

- Elisabeth Bauchet-Bouhlal (art collector, patron and CEO of Es Saadi Gardens & Resort in Morocco)

- Rosa Sandretto (art collector, patron in Italy and PS1 MOMA board member)

- Cem Erciyes (art critic, art editor of Radikal, daily newspaper in Turkey)

- Philippe Regnier (art critic, writer, journalist and consultant for cultural institutions in France)

- Brahim Alaoui (art historian, consultant with cultural institutions in Europe and the Middle East, curator)

The jury deliberation will take place on Thursday, September 29, after each member has reviewed the relevant works in the exhibition spaces at Marrakech Art Fair and at the exhibition 'Images Affranchies'. The announcement of the winner will be made at the media conference held on Friday, September 30, before the fair's official opening.

As explained by Elisabeth Bauchet-Bouhlal: 'The creation of this Es Saadi Award is something I was keen on for a long time. Ever since 1952, when my father created this hotel, the dialogue with artists has been ongoing. He initiated the 'Prix de Littérature des Quatre Jurys' and, as a collector, he passed his taste of arts on me. Today, I share it with my husband Jamil and my son Jean-Alexandre, by visiting galleries and studios during our trips and by hanging on the walls of our houses and our hotel some of our favorite works. This Es Saadi Award, organized with the help of our friend Hicham Daoudi, who initiated Marrakech Art Fair allows us to express more clearly our commitment to art and artists. '

For more information: www.marrakechartfair.com

PRESS CONTACTS

Sylvia Beder communicationculture
Phone : +33 1 42 18 09 41
sylvia@sylviabeder.com
www.sylviabeder.com