Dubai Culture Celebrates Completion of Paris Program for the Second Edition of ‘Talent Atelier’, in partnership with L’ÉCOLE Middle East
- A completion ceremony was held at L’ÉCOLE France’s iconic campus at Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau
- The five-day immersive trip around jewelry arts was organized by L’ÉCOLE Middle East and supported by Van Cleef & Arpels
Dubai, UAE, 1 October 2025: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has concluded the second edition of its Talent Atelier Programme, held in partnership with L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, and supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. The initiative empowers emerging designers by providing a platform to refine their skills and advance their expertise in jewelry arts.
Falling under the umbrella of the Dubai Cultural Grant, one of the Authority’s key initiatives aligned with Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, the Program reflects Dubai Culture’s mission to position the emirate as a global center for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
This year, the winning Emirati designers — Kamla AlOlama, Sara Alkhayyal, Noura Alshamsi, Hessa Al Abdulla, and Hind Janahi — took part in an intensive five-day learning experience at L’ÉCOLE’s Paris campus. Their curriculum covered the artistic revolution of ‘Art Nouveau: Astonishing Jewels;’ the technical finesse presented in ‘From French Jewels to Japanese Lacquer;’ the cultural and scientific dimensions of ‘Pearl: History, Science and Legends;’ and the early creative process highlighted in ‘Once Upon a Time There Was Jewlery Design.’ They gained practical training in gemology, jewelry-making techniques and examined the symbolic and historical roots of jewelry design. They also toured L’ÉCOLE’s exhibition ‘Recreating Gesture: The Replica of the Celtic Torque of Montans,’ which deepened their appreciation of jewelry’s archaeological legacy and its dialogue with contemporary creativity.
Outside the classroom, the visiting designers explored Paris’s iconic landmarks. Their itinerary included a guided tour of the French crown jewels at the Louvre Museum; an exclusive visit to the Van Cleef & Arpels workshop at Place Vendôme and the Maison’s Patrimony Gallery exhibition ‘An Ode to Nature’; the Jewlery Gallery at Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD); and the Museum of Mineralogy at MINES ParisTech. The Program also gave participants the chance to engage with leading figures in the field, along with several experts and artisans.
The week concluded with a completion ceremony at the L’ÉCOLE Paris campus in the presence of Lise Macdonald, President of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, as well as Elise Gonnet-Pon, Managing Director of L’ÉCOLE France-Europe, where the designers were awarded certificates of completion, acknowledging their creativity and accomplishments.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, emphasized the value of the Talent Atelier Program in advancing Dubai’s creative industries. She said: “This initiative enriches the knowledge of emerging talent and exposes them to international best practices in jewelry design. It empowers them to pursue their passion, refine their ideas, and translate them into projects that contribute to Dubai’s economy. At the same time, it underscores our commitment to exchange and collaborate with global partners, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a hub for culture and creativity.”
Lise Macdonald commended the designers’ endeavors and highlighted the role of the Program in furthering the UAE’s art and cultural landscape while strengthening its regional and international scope. She said: “This is an important partnership between Dubai Culture and L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts that dates 8 years ago. We have collaborated in some key projects through L’ÉCOLE Middle East in Dubai that transmits the knowledge of jewelry arts, namely the L’ÉCOLE library corner at Al Safa Art & Design library, and the Talent Atelier Program which aims to empower UAE-based talented designers with the global exposure in jewelry arts and nurturing the next generation of artists.”
Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East added: “The Program aligns with the UAE’s mission to advance the country’s creative economy, preparing Emirati designers with the highest skills across various cultural and creative industries. It equips these local talents with the know-how in jewelry arts, providing them with the opportunity to gain global expertise and expand their skills to the highest level. Our partnership reflects our shared goal of cultivating a vibrant cultural and creative ecosystem within the UAE.”
The third and final phase will culminate in Dubai, where the designers will go through a mentorship program with L’ÉCOLE Middle Easts’ lecturers, providing them guidance and support to adopt their key learnings and skills gained from their educational and immersive experiences, and apply this knowledge within their jewelry arts projects. The final designs will be presented at the L’ÉCOLE Festival in February 2026, reflecting the level of expertise and artistic development achieved throughout their journey in the Program.
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About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is committed to enriching Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage and is building bridges of constructive dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global canter for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
Dubai Culture is keen on reviving and preserving the emirate’s historical heritage and developing the regulatory frameworks for the cultural and creative sector in line with its strategic roadmap 2020 – 2025.
The Authority also seeks to empower the enablers that support talent and stimulate active public participation by investing in the various assets under its remit, including the management of five heritage sites, five museums, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, 17 archaeological sites and nine Dubai Public Library branches, all of which help contribute to creating an economic system that invigorates the cultural and creative industries. The Authority also offers 8 services and 26 sub-services.
About L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Established in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts aims to introduce the public to all aspects of jewelry culture through various activities: courses, workshops, talks, exhibitions, research, books and podcast.
Activities at L’ÉCOLE cover three main areas: the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones and the savoir-faire of jewelry-making techniques. The courses are open to everyone, with no prerequisites: complete beginners as well as enlightened amateurs, collectors and those with a curiosity for the world of jewelry. Students experiment with gestures, skills and tools, guided by their lecturers – art historians, gemologists and craftsmen.
L’ÉCOLE now has four permanent addresses: in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai.
In line with its worldwide locations, L’ÉCOLE established its Middle Eastern campus in Dubai at d3 in April 2024.
All proceeds from L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s public courses and talks are donated to Dubai Cares to support youth education programs, underscoring the school’s commitment to social responsibility and youth empowerment.
