Muscat Art, the international art exhibition hosted by the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, opened on Monday 30th October 2023, under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat. More than 200 international and local artists are featured in this year’s Muscat Art Exhibition taking place from 30th October until 1st November 2023 (daily opening 1-9 p.m.).
Visitors will be able to discover new and established international and local artists with unparalleled access to their creative thinking and visual storytelling. Aligned with the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to safeguard Oman’s cultural and artistic legacy, the exhibition will display artworks from Omani artists, including contemporary artist Hassan Meer, owner of Ali Gallery Alia Al Farsi, Omani sculptor Dr. Ali Al Jabri and the pioneering visual artist Anwar Sonya among many others.
A multicultural experience, Muscat Art will also reunite artists from various parts of the world, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Italy. Bringing together Omani and international artworks will give visitors a unique opportunity to delve into artistic trends and inspirations from various continents. A selection of art pieces from leading artists will also be on sale for art collectors to invest in.
In previous editions, the event reunited more than 50 local and international artists, attracting hundreds of art enthusiasts to the OCEC. This year, the exhibition, supported by key partners Be’ah, Oman Post and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), is expected to surpass previous attendance as the OCEC is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors for this exceptional event.
Commenting on the opening of the Muscat Art Exhibition, Eng. Said Salim Al Shanfari, Chief Executive Officer at the OCEC, explains: “The OCEC is proud to host Muscat Art 2023, one of the leading cultural events in Oman. Working closely with our partners at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, we endeavoured to make Muscat Art a celebration of our art and culture, and its preservation for generations to come. More importantly, Muscat Art is conducive to new multicultural experiences, uniting local and international artists alongside galleries to foster a shared cultural platform. The OCEC is steadfast in its commitment to be a national platform for exhibitions and events that have a real impact for our nation, in alignment with Vision 2040.”
Attending the opening ceremony, Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, stated: “Culture plays an integral part in enhancing Oman’s social and human development, shaping our national identity and awareness. Muscat Art is a unique cultural event aligned with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth’s commitment to enhance dialogue among cultures and explore global cultural conversations. I am especially proud to see many Omani artists, new and emerging, represented in this exhibition alongside established international artists.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from 30th October – 1st November (1 – 9 p.m.) – Exhibition Hall 3, Oman Convention Exhibitions Centre. For further information, interested parties can visit: https://www.events.ocec.om/muscatart2023
