Submissions open for mega art competition – Frame by MATATO

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has invited artists to submit their work for Frame by MATATO – an annual art competition and exhibition dedicated to celebrating Maldivian creativity and promoting the nation’s rich culture through the lens of tourism.

For the 2025 edition, the theme ‘The Maldivian Mystic’ takes center stage, making it the first-ever exhibition in the Maldives to bring Maldivian folklore to life through art.

Artists across four age categories can submit their work in various forms, including drawings, paintings, 3D models, installations, and sculptures – from December 10, 2024 to January 20, 2025.

According to MATATO, the submissions will undergo a rigorous evaluation by an esteemed panel of judges, featuring experts from both the Maldives and abroad.

10 entries from each age category will be shortlisted for the grand art exhibition which will be held at the National Art Gallery in 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.

Frame by MATATO is endorsed by prominent institutions, 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’.

Interested artists have been invited to visit the competition’s website for more details and to submit entries.

MATATO is an NGO dedicated to the development of the Maldivian tourism industry through unity, empowerment and cooperation. It has been a strong partner in developing tourism in the Maldives for the last 18 years.