A series of workshops for award participants are taking place under the Art Jameel Photography Award, one of the Art Jameel programmes by Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI). The workshops introduce the award specifics, such as the entry forms and terms and conditions, as well as the main theme selected for this year’s edition of the award. In addition, the workshops will provide participants with the skills necessary to progress from amateurs to professionals, thus fostering Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning landscape in art and photography.

Lexus Centres in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar have already hosted various workshops attended by over 150 artists and photographers of different nationalities. The first round of these workshops focused on the importance of developing the visionary skills of a photographer. In this respect Scotoma, the blind spot of vision, which has been selected as one of the main topics for this year’s edition of the award was discussed, as well as the level of creativity that photographers can reach when producing their artworks.

The workshops were held in August and led by prominent professional photographer Emad Al Hussaini a professional photographer in Jeddah, Moataz Al Khairat, a professional photographer and lecturer in photography in Riyadh, and Ahmed Al Afghani, a professional photographer and winner of Art Jameel Photography Award 2013 in Khobar.  Further workshops will be organized across Saudi Arabia to reach the largest possible number of talented photographers.

Dalya Mousa, Manager of the Art Programmes at the Art Jameel Initiative and Project Manager of Art Jameel Photography Award, said that the workshops would run throughout the length of competition. “We want to attract gifted photographers from across Saudi Arabia, nurture these talented photographers, and most importantly help them with their transition from amateur photographers to becoming professionals so they can embark on a career in photography,” she explained.

Mousa, revealed that the workshops supervised by Leap Studios, the sponsor of creative works have seen a great response from photographers and photography enthusiasts. She added that the award’s organizing committee has started receiving entry application forms, and that the entry will be closed by the end of next October.

Art Jameel is organizing this prestigious award in a strategic partnership with Lexus KSA and in collaboration with Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts.

Mazen Ghazi Jameel, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Lexus KSA was thrilled to host the workshops at their Lexus Centres. He stressed upon the importance of the award, which served as a platform for a large number of photographers to network, exchange experiences, and to work together on developing their skills and professional practices. “We hope they will learn to perform to international standards and become qualified to fill positions in local and regional organizations,” he said.

Art Jameel launched the 5th edition of Art Jameel Photography Award in July this year, as in every edition the aim is to showcase the works of a number of talented photographers to a wide audience and develop their skills.

This year’s award will give away five cash awards worth a total of SR100,000, and 30 pieces of work will be showcased in an exhibition travelling across Saudi Arabia.

The competition can be entered via the award’s official website www.ajpa.artjameel.org