Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism and Mubadala launch the second edition of "House of Craftsmen Design Competition"

ABU DHABI, 13th February, 2017 (WAM) – The Artisans House, affiliated with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, launched the second edition of the “Artisans House Design Competition”, sponsored by the Mubadala Foundation.

Building on the remarkable success of the inaugural edition, the competition continues to reinforce the “House of Craftsmen’s” commitment to nurturing emerging talent and preserving the rich heritage of traditional handicrafts in the UAE.

Receiving entries will begin on February 12 and close on March 19. The “House of Craftsmen” invites all creative people in various parts of the country to interact with authentic Emirati crafts and highlight them in contemporary designs, as the selected designs will have the opportunity to be acquired by the Mubadala Foundation.

Building on the achievements of last year’s edition and its distinguished designs, the competition will once again provide an innovative platform to re-present Emirati handicrafts with a contemporary vision.

It is worth noting that the winning works in the previous edition of the House of Craftsmen Design Competition were displayed within a dedicated pavilion at the Nomad Abu Dhabi exhibition, which provided artists with a valuable opportunity to appear and interact with a broader community of creatives with common interests. and

The winning design in the last edition, “Moza”, is scheduled to be displayed on an international platform at the NOMAD St. Moritz exhibition in Switzerland, from February 12 to 15, 2026, presenting an innovative mix that combines Emirati heritage and contemporary aesthetics to a global audience.

The competition programme, which proved to be very successful in its first edition, begins with an initial nomination of 20 participants, who then engage in a specially designed program to develop designs in close collaboration with an elite group of skilled craftsmen. This journey concludes with the selection of eight winners. Entries are subject to a confidential judging process conducted by a prestigious committee that includes experts in the fields of art, design, traditional crafts and education, along with key members from the “House of Craftsmen” and the “Mubadala Foundation”. Entries are evaluated according to selection criteria that include creativity, craftsmanship, innovation, relevance to the competition topic at hand, and overall artistic and design merit, ensuring a fair and accurate evaluation.

Participants are encouraged to showcase their creativity in three main categories: product design, decorative art, and furniture design. The Furniture Design category covers designs for original furniture pieces, such as chairs, tables and lamps, that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Finally, the Product Design and Decorative Art category calls for unique designs under the theme of innovative “everyday household items,” including ceramics, tableware and accessories.

As an essential part of the five-year partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the Mubadala Foundation, the competition contributes to supporting the sustainability and development of traditional handicrafts. It also aims to build bridges of communication between generations, and provides participants with a unique opportunity to closely cooperate with skilled craftsmen specializing in handicrafts, to create designs that seamlessly blend the past and the present.

The House of Craftsmen Design Competition celebrates local creative talent and is open to all distinguished artists and designers, as well as art and design students enrolled in a UAE-based higher education institution.

The initiative comes within the department’s ongoing efforts to protect, preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates, as it provides an exceptional platform for creative expression. Qualified designers, creative studios and students are encouraged to participate.

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