Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of The Executive Council of Dubai, has inaugurated the first permanent campus of L’ÉCOLE Middle East.
What is it exactly? Well, a prestigious school of jewellery arts accessible to everyone. It’s giving opportunities.
L’ÉCOLE is an educational and training platform for introducing the public to jewellery culture and expanding the creative horizons for artisans and designers, enhancing their skills and promoting a knowledge-based.
Sharing on the special moment, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted Dubai’s growing reputation as a global centre for design and creativity and a destination for institutions, companies, and brands from across the world.
She said: “Dubai offers an environment that fosters business enterprise and creativity and provides opportunities to exchange expertise in various creative fields. The establishment of L’ÉCOLE’s first headquarters in the Middle East in Dubai underscores the city’s pivotal role in the creative industries and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.”
The launch event was a star-studded affair with big names like Dubai Culture officials, Dubai Design District (d3) reps, and the crème de la crème from Van Cleef & Arpels and L’ÉCOLE. We had Nicolas Bos, Global President & CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, Lise MacDonald, Global President of L’ÉCOLE, Alessandro Maffi, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East & India, and Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East all in the mix.
L’ÉCOLE Middle East just kicked things off with 13 public courses and their first big regional exhibition, ‘Gold and Treasures: 3000 Years of Chinese Ornaments,’ running from April 26 to August 10. The exhibit is packed with 100 top-tier pieces from the Mengdiexuan Collection, showcasing over 3,000 years of Chinese goldsmithing. Plus, you’ll see some crystal and gold nuggets from L’ÉCOLE’s own stash that highlight the natural beauty of gold.
The courses at L’ÉCOLE Middle East are super detailed, offering an awesome dive into the art and history of jewellery, guided by pros in the field. Even better, all the money from their public courses and talks will go to Dubai Cares, supporting education for kids in developing countries.
The new campus in Dubai Design District, designed by Constance Guisset, totally embodies L’ÉCOLE’s vibe of craftsmanship, heritage, and creativity. The design reflects their educational focus on Art History of Jewelry, The World of Gemstones, and Savoir-Faire, ensuring a deep and enriching learning experience for everyone.