Alserkal Avenue

Alserkal Avenue is an industrial compound hosting warehouses in the industrial zone of Al Quoz, in Dubai. Recently the area has become an arts and culture district for Dubai.[1][2]

Originally an industrial area consisting of thirty-nine warehouses, the district evolved naturally, with the first gallery, Ayyam Gallery, moving into the district in 2008. The original warehouses have since been converted into art galleries, design studios, a private museum and a performing arts space.[3]

After Carbon 12 Dubai, one of the most active contemporary art galleries of the region, moved to Alserkal Avenue in October 2009, other galleries followed, and the industrial compound's function evolved to become a "focal point of artistic activity."[4]

Alserkal Avenue is now a mix of industrial business and creative spaces. It is home to twenty-five contemporary art galleries and arts spaces in a one-block radius, the highest concentration of art galleries in one area in the region.[5]

Galleries in Alserkal Avenue are distinct and characterized by individual programs that represent emerging, mid-career and established artists as well as hosting exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, young collector’s auctions and community events.[6]

In March 2012, the area's developer, Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, announced plans to double the size of the art district, adding 62 units of varying sizes to the existing 39, and also adding an events centre and additional parking, giving the district a total area of 92,000 square metres (990,000 sq ft).[7] By September 2012 Alserkal Avenue had 20 art spaces[8] and the Al Quoz neighborhood had a total of 33.[9]

Two contemporary art galleries from the district, Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde and Green Art Gallery, were selected to participate in Art Basel in the Art Statements section, "for the first time in the history of the region".[10]

References

  1. ↑ Imran Mojib, "Cultural district expansion to transform emirate’s cultural landscape", The Gulf Today, March 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Boom Times Are Back in Dubai, With a New Museum, Opera House, and Cultural District in the Works", Artinfo, November 18, 2012.
  3. ↑ Simpson, Colin. "Dubai Art District to Double in Size". The National, March 21, 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. ↑ Ali Khaled, "Industrial city's art scene is picture of vibrancy", The National, May 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ Wilson-Powell, Georgina. "Dubai's Industrial Arts Scene". BBC Travel, November 20, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. ↑ Suleiman, Nahda. "Common Ground". Brownbook, September 8, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ↑ Colin Simpson, "Dubai Art District to Double in Size", The National, March 21, 2012.
  8. ↑ Muhammad Yusuf, "New Avenue for Art', "Gulf Today", September 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ D'Souza, Carolina. "Retracing the Al Quoz Art Trail". Gulf News. External link in |publisher= (help) June 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ Hewett, Jenny. "Alserkal Avenue in Dubai Focus". Timeout Dubai. February, 10, 2012.

External links

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