For the past several decades, Middle Eastern art has increasingly attracted the attention of art lovers around the world. Whether in the visual arts, cinema, theater or music, artistic events can no longer ignore contributions from the Middle East.

Contemporary Middle Eastern art has long struggled to gain its independent voice. It is, today, an undeniable part of the contemporary art scene attracting worldwide attention and acclaim. Due to the unique circumstances of the region, researchers, connoisseurs, museums, galleries and commissioners of art, have limited resources for reaching Middle Eastern artists. Most often than not, buyers and commissioners of art and applied arts do not have direct access to artists or artworks and they have to go through a confusing network of dealers or galleries.

Eye Publishing FZ- LLC, a company established in Dubai's Media City, is creating the Art Directory of the Middle East (ADME), which will also be available on-line. ArtDirectoryME.com and the book series Contemporary Art of the Middle East are the two mediums through which Eye Publishing is hoping to fill the void of direct link between artists of the region and international art dealers and curators. The directory and the series are both published in English. They are arranged according to artistic discipline (photography, painting, sculpture, calligraphy, graphic design, architecture, conceptual art, music, film and theater) and country. In every subject area, a maximum of 210 artists will be introduced. The book series will dedicate a single page to artists containing their date and place of birth, their place in the art scene of their country, and one of their works. At the end of each book, the artist's contact information and picture as well as a listing of galleries and artistic organizations of the country will appear. These books will be reliable references for those who seek to understand the Middle Eastern art scene and provides access to the artists.

All the books will be published in the UAE and distributed in their respective countries and throughout the world. In addition, Eye Publishing FZ- LLC will use its resources to better introduce renowned artists to international organizations. As a first step, the series will be introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Book Fair in late October.

Further, a list of all the artists from each country will be posted on ArtDirectoryME.com free of charge. Each artist will have a page containing his/her picture, work history, contact information and a link to his/her web page. Cultural, educational and artistic centers, active and reputable galleries of each country are also introduced on the website. ArtDirectoryME.com is the most comprehensive, accessible guide on Middle Eastern art.

In the compilation of this information, Mahriz Publication is acting in collaboration with Eye Publishing FZ- LLC. It will be the representatives of ADME series in Tehran.