Dubai: Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) inaugurated the Ladies Day at Art Dubai 2012 yesterday.
Shaikha Manal said she was delighted with the multi-faceted programming that featured leading international artists and curators engaging with their peers as well as the public in artistic and cultural activities.
Antonia Carver, director of Art Dubai, took the high profile female guests through the galleries, as curators spoke to them about the art.
The ladies day has been part of Art Dubai since its inception. Carver said: "It is important to have a ladies day so that we can make sure that everyone is comfortable in the fair for a certain amount of time and also to encourage young ladies to come to the fair."
She said having a ladies day encouraged women to get involved in art. She said: "In fact so many of the foreign press have been commenting on how the Middle Eastern art scene seems so female centric; lots of galleries are run by women, many women artists are represented, and the tradition of ladies day has probably encouraged it further."
A number of colleges and schools took their students to Art Dubai. The co-ed New York Institute of Technology of Abu Dhabi took their female students to visit the fair.
Most of the younger female visitors, especially those from female only schools and universities, thought it was better to have a ladies only day, as it was more comfortable for them. But for some of them it made no difference.
Older female visitors were also divided. Sanaa Obaid from Al Ain said: "It is more comfortable, I can take my time to admire the art."
‘Open-minded'
Her cousin, Maitha Al Khalili, said it did not matter to her if there was a ladies day or not, and noted that people who are interested in art and attending art exhibits are usually open-minded and do not mind the mixed environment. They both agreed that one ladies day was sufficient, for a six-day event.
Noora Abdal Rahman, who was touring the gallery with members of her family, said: "Women these days are not like before, and they can go everywhere."
Tiffany Eslick said for her it did not make a difference, she added: "But I think maybe in this country it is a good idea and would encourage women to come."
Carver noted that the most fantastic sight on ladies day was that of "young students taking notes, looking around the fair and absorbing everything it has to offer."
