For over a decade, The Sheraton Addis has supported and displayed Ethiopian art, providing a venue to new talent at the Art of Ethiopia exhibition. Since the second exhibition in 2009 all featured artists will be generously contributing a portion of their proceeds towards the Sheraton Addis Art Endowment Fund. This fund aims to promote Ethiopian artistic talent in Addis and across the country, helping us to better appreciate the world around us, explain it, and sometimes escape from it – as Picasso once stated “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life from our souls“.
History of “Art of Ethiopia”
The Art of Ethiopia started in the year 2008 by the Sheraton Addis. The hotel has collected for over 12 years art works from local galleries and felt that the Ethiopian artists should benefit from the exposure the hotel could give them. Furthermore the art show is part of the hotel’s Community Outreach Programme. For each year’s exhibition the hotel creates an art catalog that is sold to visitors and guests. All proceeds from the sales of the catalog go towards the Sheraton Addis Art Endowment Fund which supports local art schools artistic initiatives in the city of Addis Ababa.
Over 78 artists have displayed their art in the hotel’s Grand Ball Room Lalibela since the start of the exhibition, accounting for over 700 pieces of art work. The success of the event and positive feedback encouraged the hotel to make this exhibition an annual event in Addis Ababa.
-Via : sheratonaddis.com