MATATO has announced its annual art competitionand exhibition, Frame by MATATO, an initiative dedicated to celebrating Maldivian creativity and promoting the nation’s rich culture through the lens of tourism. This flagship event aims not only fosters interest within the local creative community but also to showcase the incredible artistic talents of Maldivians to tourists and the public alike.
For the 2025 edition, the theme ‘The MaldivianMystic’ takes center stage, making this the first-ever exhibition in the Maldives to bring Maldivian folklore to life through art. From 10 December 2024 to 20 January 2025, artists across four age categories are invited to participate and submit their work in various forms, including drawings, paintings, 3D models, installations, and sculptures.
Submissions will undergo a rigorous evaluationby an esteemed panel of judges, featuring experts from both the Maldives and abroad. From these submissions, 10 entries from each age category will be shortlisted for the grand Art Exhibition at the National Art Gallery, scheduled for the first week of February 2025. For the first time in Frame by MATATO, the winners will be determined through public voting, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage directly with the art and artists.
This landmark event is endorsed by prominentinstitutions, including:
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art
Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC)
National Centre for the Arts (NCA)
Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI)
Maldivian Artist Community (MAC)
National Hotels and Guesthouses Association of Maldives (NHGAM)
Through this collaboration, Frame by MATATO hopes to elevate the status of Maldivian art and culture on the global stage, while offering a platform for artists of all ages to share their visions and interpretations of the ‘Maldivian Mystic’.
You may visit www.framebymatato.com for more details and to submit your entries.
MATATO is an NGO, working for the developmentof the Maldivian tourism industry through unity, empowerment and cooperation, and
has been a strong partner in developing tourism in the Maldives for the last 18
years.