AuDITIONS Arabia, the only gold jewellery design contest of its kind in the Arab World, has extended the deadline for submission of design entries to April 30.

Organised by the World Gold Council in partnership with international industry player Hammer Group, the contest serves as a platform for showcasing new talents in gold jewellery design.

It is part of AuDITIONS Global platform launched across the globe - in South Africa, Brazil, China and India. The pioneering initiative is supported by AngloGold Ashanti – the world’s second biggest gold producer.

Moaz Barakat, WGC managing director for the Middle East, Pakistan and Turkey, said the overall response for the contest has far exceeded expectations.

'We have received thousands of entries from across the region, further proof that the region has a wealth of design talent just waiting to be tapped. We have decided to extend the competition deadline to allow more entries to come in, especially those coming from outside the UAE. This would give everyone a fair chance to gain international fame for their gold jewellery designs through the competition.”

Design entries to AuDITIONS Arabia will be anchored on the theme: ‘Ethno-Contemporary: Inspired by Cultural Treasures & Contemporary Trends.’
Participants are required to draw design inspiration from the ancient traditions, culture, art, architecture and heritage of the Arab region to create pieces that set new trends.

All participants should give form to new age gold jewellery and push the boundaries of conventional design in gold. The finished piece of jewellery should exemplify culture and heritage, and be defined by a modern twist.

The competition is open to Arabs and Non-Arabs alike who are residents of the Arab Region. WGC will assemble a panel of experts – well-known designers and artists in the Arab world - to shortlist 30 designs out of the entries received.

The selected designs will be translated into actual jewellery pieces. The panel will consequently choose, in a second round of judging, the final winners from the 30 finalists and announce their names at the Grand Finale Award Ceremony which will be held in October 2008.

On top of the prestige and international exposure, the top 30 nominated participants will be accredited and awarded a merit certificate while the 5 final winners will be presented with the following prizes: One first place prize worth $5,000; second place prize worth $3,000 and three third place prizes worth $2,000 each.

The packages may come in the form of overseas trips to attend a jewellery design forum, training in a gold jewellery workshop, or a subsidy to study in a design university, college or institute. The same will be arranged and agreed upon with each of the winners.

“We encourage jewellery designers who have the talent and ambition to take advantage of this rare opportunity. Auditions Arabia will jumpstart your career in gold jewellery design and bring you a step closer to realizing your dreams to be known internationally,' Barakat added.-TradeArabia News Service