The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) yesterday announced it would focus on local content creation by supporting art patrons and encouraging them to make financial contributions that drive arts initiatives in Dubai.

While announcing the second edition of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards next year, the body said the spotlight would be on art patrons at the event. Dubai Culture had honoured organisations and individuals for their support to arts initiatives with the inaugural awards. Now, it is encouraging patrons of the arts to extend their continued support for arts initiatives in 2010, it said.

The objective of Dubai Culture's encouragement of patronage to the arts is to create a stronger cultural infrastructure in Dubai while also nurturing local talent and enabling them to express their creative aspirations through powerful and original content, the body said. Dubai Culture is the emirate's dedicated authority for culture, heritage and the arts.

The awards next year will be conferred in four categories – Distinguished Patrons of the Arts, Patrons of the Arts, Supporters of the Arts and Friends of the Arts – for contributions, both financial and in kind, to promote the performing arts, literature, visual arts and films or related Dubai-led initiatives during 2010. The call for submissions and more details will be announced in due course.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Officer at Dubai Culture, said the inaugural awards have become a referral point for cultural patronage in the region. "The awards stands as a testament to the support of the Dubai Government in promoting cultural initiatives in the emirate. The collective contribution of those honoured has played an instrumental role in elevating Dubai's cultural scene," he said.

He said the expansion of Dubai's capacity for artistic production will be shaped by the generous patronage of private groups and individuals. "The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards will continue to inspire the creative community to sharpen their contribution and focus on original content creation that will have global appeal and resonance."

The inaugural awards had honoured more than 50 individuals and organisations who collectively contributed more than Dh220 million towards cultural initiatives in Dubai from 2007 to 2009.