Majid Al Futtaim Fashion Hosts Art Auction Culmina

S A C H A   J A F R I

Significant Monies Raised for Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs

Majid Al Futtaim Fashion hosts art auction culminating Sacha Jafri’s four-year philanthropic journey
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 20 June 2012 – A significant amount of money was raised at a private auction hosted May 9th by Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, the apparel retailing arm of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures. Three art pieces created by contemporary artist Sacha Jafri were sold, with proceeds going towards Dubai-based special needs centre, the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.

The event auctioned two pieces from Sacha’s recent installation at the DIFC “The Child Within Us – Untouched Beginning and Expressions of the Soul,” and one commissioned piece “Our Spirit – Mutual Expressions” celebrating the 20-year relationship between Rashid School for Boys and Al Noor.

“We have spent the past four months on a journey with Sacha and Al Noor; from the development and launch of the collaboration in February, to the workshops and creation of the “The Child Within Us – Untouched Beginning and Expressions of the Soul” installation at DIFC in March, showcasing the pieces and raising awareness of the initiative in April and finally concluding with the auction of the artwork in May,” said Asil Attar, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Fashion. “This is a passionate collaboration of arts, charity and corporate that reiterates Majid Al Futtaim Fashion’s ongoing commitment to Al Noor and excellence in CSR. While the initiative may have come to an end, the funds raised will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the Al Noor children. We are extremely thankful for all who supported and participated in this rewarding cause.”

The memorable evening commemorated Sacha’s four year philanthropic journey during which he traveled around the world to work with under privileged children.  Majid Al Futtaim Fashion lead the initiative – “The Constellation” – to raise awareness for Al Noor and to provide a platform to bring Sacha’s journey to conclusion; ending full circle in Dubai, after Sacha had received initial inspiration from the Al Noor children four years ago.

“A collection very close to my heart, it was inspired from my travels over the last four years to conflict and dramatically developing and anthropologically shifting zones of the world as well as from working with the troubled and impoverished ‘special-needs’ and ‘war-torn’ children,” said Sacha Jafri. “I feel privileged to have gotten to work with these amazing children and that the emotionally-driven pieces were sold to individuals who truly appreciate the artwork and the meaning behind it. Al Noor is such an amazing organization, and very deserving of these funds to help them continue their programs.”

“We are so thankful to have support from Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, Sacha Jafri and the local community for our programs,” said Isphana Al Khatib, Director of Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs. “The children currently in the program have benefitted from getting to work and interact with Sacha first-hand as part of the collaboration, and children in the program for many years to come will benefit from the awareness and monetary funds raised in this initiative.”

The auction, run by Christie’s, highlighted the work of artist Sacha Jafri, the dedication and passion of Asil Attar from Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, and the commitment of Al Noor’s Director Isphana Al Khatib. The night culminated in raising funds up to the value of $500,000 for the Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs.

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About Majid Al Futtaim Fashion:
Majid Al Futtaim Fashion is one of the subsidiaries of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures. It currently operates a number of leading fashion brands throughout the GCC & Levant region including Juicy Couture, HOSS Intropia, Jane Norman and Mexx, with the newest edition to its portfolio being IT’SUGAR.
For more information please contact The Portsmouth Group at: 04 369 3575
angela.bak@theportsmouthgroup / [email protected] / [email protected]

 

About Al Noor

Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs is a non-profit organization which falls under the Ministry of Social Affairs.  For the past 30 years, Al Noor has been providing high quality professional training to the special needs community in Dubai. In 1981, we started with 8 children and have since grown to a recognized establishment with over 270 students. In 2007, we moved to our own premises in Al Barsha. Our purpose-built facility has been donated to us by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai and through the benefaction of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.

The Centre can accommodate up to 300 special children. Our current roster comprises of 270 children from 30 nationalities with various physical and cognitive challenges such as Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. Al Noor uses a transdisciplinary approach to implement its training programme and in addition to teaching, offers Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychological services, Sports and Music. Al Noor also has its own Work Placement Unit which trains students with a capability for open employment.

About Sacha Jafri
At 34 years, Jafri is the youngest living artist in the history of art to have had a 10 year retrospective; he is now described as being one of the world’s most celebrated young artists. Jafri's work now typically sells for between $250,000-$750,000 with his recent live painting selling in auction at the Islamic Museum in Doha for $1million Dollars. Jafri has recently appeared on the front cover of the Financial Times, Singapore Times and Gulf News. With his sell-out World Tour shown alongside a previously lost Andy Warhol collection entitled ‘Jafri meets Warhol’, he has now been described by the BBC as being: “A Shrewd Investment”. Jafri has since been appointed as one of the official London 2012 Olympic Artists and his imminent latest collection ‘Universe of the Child’ is set to tour the world next year, opening at the Royal Academy in 2012.