Djelfa – The 10th edition of the National Qantas Prize for Fine Arts competition kicked off today, Saturday, in Djelfa with the participation of 62 artists representing 40 provinces across Algeria, as reported by the event organizers.
According to Ismail Oubah, the event organizer and visual artist, this competition is considered a “significant addition” to the cultural scene in the region. The revival of the competition after a five-year hiatus has had a “positive impact” on the participants. He further noted that the organizers aim to elevate the competition and establish it as a national festival, as the works entered are of a “high and qualitative level,” showcasing the vast imagination of the artists working tirelessly to promote visual arts in Algeria.
Mokhtar Sidiqi, Director of the Ben Rushd Cultural Center, emphasized that this cultural activity offers participants from various regions of the country the opportunity to interact and exchange knowledge in the art form. It is part of a series of cultural events that have made an impact in the region, the most recent being the National Heritage Festival of the Naïli Region.
This edition, which carries the theme “Fine Arts in the Service of Heritage and Preserving National Identity,” is distinguished from previous editions by the inclusion of a workshop, where the best artists will be honored at the end of the competition, alongside the winner of the Qantas Prize.
Participants, who were interviewed during the opening of the competition’s exhibition, expressed their gratitude for the revival of this event, highlighting its importance as a “cultural asset” that must be preserved and institutionalized.
The Qantas National Prize, established in 2005, is a national-level competition that attracts top Algerian visual artists and provides a platform for showcasing the works of those passionate about fine arts in the country.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
