Alserkal Avenue expansion launches new wave of Art, Fashion and Creative Organisations

14 new local and regional creative concepts join leading arts and cultural hub Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Today Alserkal Avenue announced the arrival of 14 new creative concepts and organisations as part of its expansion, bringing an exciting and diverse range of homegrown and international talent to the leading arts and cultural hub.

The 14 new creative spaces include a leading artist studio, unique fashion and design concepts, and culinary experiences. Building on the 15 concepts announced in March 2016, excitement about the identity of the creative concepts has been growing among Dubai’s creative community since the expansion of Alserkal Avenue was announced in 2012. The new arrivals represent an important addition to the region’s artistic scene.

Speaking at an event to introduce the new community members and inaugurate the new arts season, Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Founder of Alserkal Avenue, explained how the new additions to the community will add depth, flavour and new dimensions to the cultural landscape, saying, “Alserkal Avenue is a home for dreamers, visionaries and creative leaders who are looking to add to the cultural wealth of our region. I would like to pay tribute to our existing galleries, who have played a major role in our success. When we announced the expansion of Alserkal Avenue, we pledged that we would use this opportunity to break new ground and stimulate new thinking. Today, we welcome more inspiring enterprises that will add their own touches to the ever-developing Alserkal story.”

Among the new arrivals is the first artist’s studio to become part of the Avenue. Renowned Dubai-based artist eL Seed is set to open a concept space where he will produce and showcase his work. “The energy of Alserkal Avenue is inspiring and infectious. The new studio space is an incredible opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to see what the new extension will bring to Dubai’s art and culture scene.”

A number of new galleries will also join in the current lanes of the Avenue. These include 1x1 Gallery, which celebrates two decades of presenting modern and contemporary Indian art in the UAE; Elmarsa Gallery, which will showcase modern and contemporary art by the most influential 20th and 21st century artists from North Africa; and, ap&p (Art Print & Production), Dubai’s first dedicated fine art print, framing, merchandise production and finishing studio.

Vilma Jurkute, Director of Alserkal Avenue said: “The initiatives we’ve announced today were chosen to be part of our curated community because of their commitment to creativity and their extraordinary vision. As homegrown initiatives, they are truly commendable, employing local talent and reaching out to the local community in conjunction with Alserkal Avenue’s existing regional and international galleries.”

For visitors looking to take home examples of exciting contemporary culture, the expansion will include a number of retail and fashion concepts driven by cultural entrepreneurs. These will include The Flip Side, the region’s destination for all things vinyl; The Jewel Teller, a workshop and design studio with an incorporated gallery; CHI-KA, which will house a kimono gallery-shop, and rotating kimono and art exhibits; and Atelier 68, a boutique destination offering handmade accessories for men alongside the exhibition and retail of iconic cars from a private collection. A range of design concepts will also join Alserkal Avenue, using it as a springboard to share their vision across the UAE and the wider region. These include The Odd

Piece, a furniture gallery that creates a seamless dialogue between vintage and modern, and Ikon House, a globally-recognised lifestyle retail concept that fuses original designs with cutting-edge technology.

While the Avenue retains its strong focus on contemporary art, the expansion will provide a home and support for handpicked ventures that are bringing something new to the region. Four new food and beverage concepts will also join the Avenue. Among them will be Hapi, a holistic lifestyle brand combining an all-day diner with a movement facility that aims to inspire the community to live happier lives through good food and mindful exercise. It will be joined by Nightjar, a factory and kitchen dedicated to the art of specialty coffee roasting. The F&B concepts will be rounded out by an artisanal chocolate factory that will give visitors a chance to view the production process, and Crave, a modern, social food concept.

The first phase of openings will take place in November 2015, with further launches and maiden exhibitions slated for January and March 2016.

For a full list of art galleries and cultural organisations currently in Alserkal Avenue please visit www.alserkalavenue.ae.

About Alserkal Avenue
Alserkal Avenue is the region’s foremost arts and culture neighbourhood located in Al Quoz, Dubai. Since it was established in 2007, Alserkal Avenue has grown to become an essential platform for the development of homegrown artistic and cultural initiatives, supporting a vibrant community of contemporary art galleries and alternative art spaces, together with design, media and industrial studios. In 2015 Alserkal Avenue began introducing its own homegrown programme as an arts organization, dedicated to encouraging new ideas, open dialogue and a more diverse and rich eco-system for art in the region.
www.alserkalavenue.ae.

Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Founder of Alserkal Avenue and patron of the arts.
Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal was born and raised in Dubai. After graduating from university in the United States, he began his career in real estate and development in the UAE. A patron of the arts, he started of Alserkal Avenue, combining his passion for the arts with his interest in real estate. Abdelmonem is the driving force behind Alserkal Avenue, which today houses some of the region’s most prominent contemporary art spaces. Looking to extend the reach and cultural impact of the Avenue, Abdelmonem initiated the Alserkal Avenue expansion, which was unveiled in early 2015. In addition to more gallery space, the expansion is home to salient features including a community theatre and outdoor performance venue, affirming Alserkal Avenue’s presence as an arts and culture hub of international standing. Abdelmonem and the Alserkal family have long been supporters of the arts and have been awarded the Patron of the Arts award twice, in 2012 and 2013, by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.