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A PROJECT OF

Empowering young voices through art, culture, and innovation – bridging heritage with the future.

A global youth arts initiative giving teens (13–17) a stage to create, connect, and be heard.

OPEN CALL:
1 August – 1 November 2026

Theme: Belonging
Where do you belong?

Submit your artwork and join a national movement of creativity.

Exhibitions, awards, performances,
and public dialogue
led by teens.

Education, workshops,
and creative labs with artists and curators.

Exhibitions, awards, performances,
and public dialogue
led by teens.

|

5M+

media impressions across TV, press & digital platforms

public visitors across venues, schools & community events

10.000+

countries represented in submissions

60+

youth artists engaged in exhibitions, masterclasses & mentorships

300+

Teens 13–17

Solo or collaborative (name all contributors)

Who

What

Painting, Graphics, Digital, Photo, Video, Performance, Fashion, Craft, Art Writing

Visual art of any kind

Exhibition & Festival:

Deadline:

When

Opens:

Inclusive submissions welcome

Support
& Access

Need help? We’ve got guidance sessions + email support

Awards announced at the Festival

Mentorships, masterclasses, press and digital features

Awards
& Recognition

Selection
& Exhibition

Selected works shown across Doha venues

Juried selection by artists/
curators/educators

Rights & Use

We may request permission to show your work

Images: JPG/PNG (≤10 MB each)

Add title, medium, size, year

Video: MP4 (short clip or trailer)

File Specs

How to Submit

Simple online form (images/video + short text)

No fee

Up to 3 works per artist

You keep ownership

“SILENT AGONY” (2021)
Heaven Akua Nartey, USA

“UNITED” (2023)
Farid Huseynov, Azerbaijan

“OUR FUTURE” (2023)
Ekaterina Birykina, Russia

NO NAME
Ayan Mehra, Singapore

NO TITLE (2023)
Cathrine Nagel, South Africa

“PEACE” (2023)
Margarita Astaturyan, Georgia

“LEVIATHAN” (2023)
Maria Zykova, Russia

“INTERPRETATION OF THE INFINITE” (2021)
Arseny Varankin, Russia

“RESURGENCE OF BLOOM” (2023)
Lau V-Shane, Malaysia

“NATURE, SCIENCE & SAPIENS” (2023)
Ayn Mehra, Singapore

“TODAY I’LL BREAK THE CYCLE...” (2023)
Ruslina Slivina, Georgia

NO TITLE
Kamilla Kireeva, Russia

”FUTUTE WORLD” (2023)
Anna Vlasova, Russia

This year’s jury brings vision, experience, heart, and a deep belief in the next generation of creators.

Teen Art Awards 2026 Jury Panel

Meet the cultural leaders, artists, curators and creative thinkers shaping this year’s Teen Art Awards.

Our Jury brings together diverse perspectives to honour bold ideas, originality, and emerging youth voices in art today.

FOUNDER & CEO, ZURANI | INTERNATIONAL ART ADVISORY

Ashraf Abuissa

ABUISSA HOLDING | ALBAHIE AUCTION HOUSE & BISSAN GALLERY |  QATAR

Contemporary Artist and Environmentalist

Director of International Affairs, Katara Cultural Village

Dr Waseem Kotoub

BRITISH COUNCIL | QATAR

Natalia Kapchuk is an internationally recognised contemporary artist and environmentalist based between Dubai and London. Her multidisciplinary practice explores the relationship between ecological systems, human intervention and the natural world through painting and mixed-media sculpture. Working with natural, reclaimed and industrial materials, she develops research-driven projects addressing biodiversity loss, industrialisation, sustainability and the long-term impact of human activity on natural ecosystems. She further developed her artistic education at Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College of Arts, both part of University of the Arts London.

Kapchuk has exhibited internationally across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with her work presented at major cultural platforms and institutions including Expo 2020 Dubai, CICA Museum in South Korea, ME Dubai Hotel, as well as public art venues in London and New York. Her works have also been presented at international auctions, including Phillips and Christie’s, and are held in private collections in the United Kingdom, France, the United Arab Emirates and India. Her artistic and environmental work has received international recognition, including distinctions from the Parliamentary Society of Arts, Fashion and Sports and the Michelangelo International Art Prize.

Alongside her artistic practice, Kapchuk is actively engaged in international environmental advocacy. She serves as an Ambassador of the Parliamentary Society of Arts, Fashion and Sports (UK) and a Goodwill Ambassador for the Better World Fund (BWF). She has collaborated with environmental organisations including The Ocean Cleanup, Born Free Foundation, Earthwatch Europe and Plastic Oceans Europe, using art and public engagement to raise awareness of environmental challenges and encourage greater responsibility towards the natural world.

Contemporary Artist and Environmentalist

Ashraf Abuissa

Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and patron of the arts, Ashraf Abu Issa is the Chairman of Abuissa Holding, one of the Middle East’s leading family-owned conglomerates with diversified operations in retail, distribution, real estate, and investments.

A passionate art collector and cultural advocate, Mr. Abu Issa is also the Founder and CEO of AlBahie Auction House, Qatar’s first fine art and antiques auction house, and Owner of Bissan Gallery, a contemporary art gallery that supports regional and international artists. Through these ventures, he has played a key role in enriching Qatar’s cultural landscape, fostering artistic dialogue, and supporting the creative economy in the region.

His dedication to the arts extends beyond business — Mr. Abu Issa actively supports emerging artists, art education, and heritage preservation, believing in art’s power to connect people and tell stories across generations.

In recognition of his entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to community development, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011. He also co-founded INJAZ Qatar, a non-profit organization empowering youth through education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Through his vision, philanthropy, and cultural engagement, Ashraf Abu Issa continues to bridge commerce and creativity, championing initiatives that inspire dialogue, innovation, and cultural appreciation across Qatar and beyond.

Chairman, Abuissa Holding | Founder, AlBahie Auction House & Bissan Gallery | Art Collector

Benjamin Tomkins is an entrepreneur, art advisor, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zurani, an international art advisory firm specialising in fine art, collecting, and investment strategy.

With extensive experience across the international art market, Benjamin has developed expertise in art advisory, collection development, and the intersection of artistic and commercial value. His work involves collaborating with private collectors, investors, and art professionals, bringing together cultural insight and strategic understanding of the global art industry.

His professional background includes leadership roles in art advisory and alternative investments, as well as co-founding Intent Gallery in Dubai. Through these experiences, he has gained a broad perspective on the contemporary art landscape, the dynamics of the international art market, and the opportunities available to artists within an evolving creative economy.

Benjamin has also pursued specialist education through Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Christie’s Education, and Harvard Business School Online, further developing his understanding of art market economics, art finance, and investment strategy.

As Founder and CEO of Zurani, Benjamin is committed to advancing informed engagement with the arts and strengthening connections between collectors, institutions, and the wider artistic community. His professional approach reflects a belief in the lasting cultural significance of art and its ability to connect people, ideas, and generations.

As a member of the Teen Art Awards jury, Benjamin brings an international perspective shaped by his experience in the global art industry. His expertise offers valuable insight into the relationship between artistic expression, professional development, and the opportunities that emerging artists may encounter as they establish their creative identities and future careers.

FOUNDER & CEO, ZURANI | INTERNATIONAL ART ADVISORY

Azza Al Qubaisi is a pioneering Emirati multidisciplinary artist, sculptor and designer, recognised as the UAE’s first Emirati jewellery artist. Born and based in Abu Dhabi, her practice explores Emirati identity, heritage and the natural landscape through sculpture, jewellery and public art.

Working across metals and natural materials, including palm fronds, Al Qubaisi combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary forms. Her work draws on the landscapes, materials and visual culture of the UAE, exploring the relationship between cultural memory, identity and place.

Her work has been presented internationally, including at Forever Is Now at the Giza Pyramids, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., Sotheby’s London, Expo Milano and exhibitions in Berlin. More recently, she participated in the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial 2024–2025 and exhibited with Leila Heller Gallery in New York in 2025.

Beyond her artistic practice, Al Qubaisi is committed to supporting emerging creative talent. She is the founder of the Ebda’a Awards, a long-running platform dedicated to discovering and developing emerging jewellery designers, and has contributed extensively to cultural initiatives, education and creative development in the UAE.

Al Qubaisi holds a BA in Jewellery Design, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts from London Guildhall University and an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from the Higher Colleges of Technology. She is a recipient of the British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur Award and the Emirates Woman of the Year Award.

Charles Al Sidaoui is a Lebanese-born, Dubai-based art collector and businessman, and the founder of The Yes Collection — an international collection bringing together Modern and Contemporary art from the Middle East and around the world.

Built over more than fifteen years, his collection reflects a deeply personal and international approach to collecting, bringing together artists across generations, cultures and artistic movements. The Yes Collection includes works by internationally recognised and emerging artists from the Middle East, Europe, the United States and Asia, creating dialogues across different cultural and artistic traditions.

In 2023, Sotheby’s Dubai presented a dedicated exhibition of works from The Yes Collection, highlighting the diversity and distinctive curatorial approach behind Al Sidaoui’s collecting practice.

Beyond building his own collection, Al Sidaoui is passionate about making art accessible and inspiring new generations to engage with it. He regularly welcomes collectors, art organisations and visitors to experience The Yes Collection and strongly advocates for discovering and supporting young and emerging artists.

For Al Sidaoui, collecting is driven above all by an emotional connection with art and a belief in its ability to transcend geography and culture. His approach reflects a conviction that art is a universal language — one that encourages curiosity, dialogue and a broader understanding of the world

Dr Waseem Kotoub

Dr Waseem Kotoub is a cultural strategist and interdisciplinary leader whose career bridges the arts, education, and international collaboration. As the Country Director of the British Council in Qatar, he champions youth-focused cultural programmes that foster creativity, dialogue, and global exchange.

With a background as a concert pianist, composer, and curator, Dr Kotoub brings a deep understanding of the transformative power of the arts. He has pioneered regional programmes in performing arts, creative entrepreneurship, and inclusion — supporting strategic UK-Middle East cultural dialogue. Previously, he led arts and sports portfolios in the Gulf and played a key role in cross-ministerial engagement between the UK and Qatar.

Dr Kotoub brings a unique approach to cultural leadership rooted in care, access, and cross-disciplinary innovation and remains a strong advocate for inclusive cultural access and creative education that connects generations and communities across borders.

COUNTRY DIRECTOR. BRITISH COUNCIL | QATAR

Ms. Maryam Al Saad is a distinguished leader in public diplomacy and international cultural relations, serving as Director of International Affairs at Katara Cultural Village, CEO of the Katara Public Diplomacy Center, and Secretary General of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet).

Since joining Katara Cultural Village Foundation in 2010, she has played a significant role in strengthening Qatar’s international cultural engagement and building connections between institutions and communities across the world. Through her work, she has championed cross-cultural dialogue, international cooperation, and the role of culture as a bridge between people of different backgrounds.

Her extensive experience in cultural diplomacy and international relations brings an important perspective to the Teen Art Awards 2026 jury, particularly in the context of this year’s theme, “Belonging,” which explores identity, community, cultural roots, and the connections that shape young people’s sense of place in the world.

Director of International Affairs, Katara Cultural Village | CEO, Katara Public Diplomacy Center

Thank you to all the young artists from around the world who shared their creativity with us.

Stay tuned, results will be announced soon!

Teen Art Awards is presented by Art.Coordinate.

Got questions, ideas, or art to share?
We’d love to hear from you.

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