Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, ADMAF, has announced the winner of the ADMAF Comic Arts Award 2014 in association with award sponsors, Mubadala. Part of ADMAF's Rewarding Excellence programme, the award aims to create awareness around the power of the comic arts as a tool of self-expression, creativity and cultural awareness.
The shortlisted entries for the award, which called for submissions from U.A.E. citizens above the age of 18, were on display at the Mubadala Youth Forum. With the aim to nurture and celebrate outstanding artistic expression in the comic arts, submissions were assessed on artistic merit, technical skill, evidence of original thinking, and development of a concept, all of which were encapsulated in the winning entry. "Mary and Me" by Fatima Al Muhairi, a graduate of the Cartoon Network Animation Academy in Abu Dhabi, explores a young girl's relationship with her mother, father and nanny.
Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, commented, "The excellent submissions received for the 2014 ADMAF Comic Arts Award reflect the wealth of creativity among young U.A.E. citizens. We are proud to announce Fatima Al Muhairi as the winner and hope that this award may encourage her to develop her comic arts concept further. All forms of artistic expression are vitally important in the development of society and as part of our Rewarding Excellence programme, the Comic Arts Award uses a fascinating medium to nurture creativity among the youth of the nation." Commenting on the partnership, Nadine Hassan, Head of Social Development and Partnerships, Mubadala, said, "Our partnership with ADMAF continues to help us bring outstanding opportunities to the local community. Hosting the ADMAF Comic Arts Award at the Mubadala Youth Forum aligns with our vision to showcase success stories that inspire young Emiratis to play a role in the range of exciting industries that are being developed in the U.A.E.." The prize for the winner includes fees and living expenses to attend an overseas course at the New York Film Academy 3D Animation School, along with a WACOM Cintiq 13HD graphics tablet computer and a signed limited edition copy of Ashraf Ghori's ‘Vault'. In addition, the winning work will be entered into the U.S.A. Society of Illustrators Comic and Cartoon Art Annual, 2015.
Celebrating the very best in in national comic arts, the inaugural edition of this annual competition accepted submissions in comic or animation mediums including Long Form (longer than 40 pages) such as graphic novels, Short Form (shorter than 40 pages), including stand-alone work, Digital Media including web comics and online comic strips, Comic Strips featuring four or more panels, Single Image featuring a self-contained narrative image, and Moving Image utilising motion graphics.