Dubai Culture releases 28th edition of ArtMap, the definitive guide on the arts and culture scene in the UAE

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts, heritage, and literature, launched the 28th edition of ArtMap, a comprehensive and artistic cultural guide to major events and exhibitions taking place across the UAE. The guide is published bi-annually in collaboration with ‘Art in the City,’ and also includes detailed schedules and listings, useful maps, and editorial content from cultural figures of the local arts community.

This edition of ArtMap highlights programmes from all corners of the Emirates, featuring exhibitions taking place across Dubai, including the Mosques of the World exhibition — which presents mosques from around the world through 32 photographs from creative photographers based in 15 countries — and festivals like Dubai Art Festival for Youth Theatre, ‘Live our Heritage’ Festival, and Sikka Art Fair, with an outlook on Dubai Art Season 2019. Abu Dhabi Art is also celebrating its 10th edition, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi is headed towards its first anniversary. Over in Sharjah, The Africa Institute launched, Maraya Arts Centre is holding thought-provoking exhibitions, and the Fikra Design Biennial initiative opened.

Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at Dubai Culture and Acting Director of Projects and Events, commented: “This 28th edition of ArtMap further highlights the culturally rich seasons of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah by presenting creative events that offer platforms for veterans and upcoming artists based across the GCC. Dubai Culture’s mandate is to position the Emirate as a global, creative, and sustainable city for culture, arts, literature, and heritage, in line with Dubai Plan 2021 to make the Emirate the happiest and most creative city in the world.” 

Dubai Culture’s various projects and initiatives shed light on artists such as  Dubai-based Lebanese Chafa Gaddar who is creating a unique tile mural as part of the Artists in Residence (A.i.R) programme commissioned by the Authority. Additionally, as part of the UAE National Strategy for Reading 2026, Dubai Culture is playing a leading role in transforming all Dubai public libraries into state-of-the-art cultural and artistic hubs, not just centres for knowledge and culture in the city. Al Safa Art & Design Library is the pilot project of this initiative and is featured on the cover of this edition of ArtMap.

November events include Dubai Design Week, which will see Dubai Design District (d3) activated with an array of initiatives including Downtown Design and the next editions of Abwab and the Global Grad Show, providing platforms for commercial, non-commercial, and educational offerings. November also includes the launch of Abu Dhabi Art, returning for its 10thedition from 14th – 17th November, with the exhibitions ‘Structures of Meaning: Architectures of Perceptions’ and ‘Beyond: Emerging Artists,’ and with the ‘Remote Abu Dhabi’ performance in collaboration with The Art Center, NYU Abu Dhabi.

With the return of Dubai Art Season, March – April 2019, Emirates Airlines Literature Festival will be its headline event, taking place 1st – 9th March 2019. The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is the Arab World’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word that placing home-grown talent centre-stage and offers local fans the chance to interact with world-famous authors, attend literary debates and workshops, and participate in competitions.

Over in Sharjah, a trio of exhibitions opened courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation, and 1971 Design Space will collaborate with the Khatt foundation to showcase Arabic Typographic posters. The March Project, an annual seven-month educational residency programme which allows a selected group of young artists to research, realise, and present site-specific works, will return for its fifth edition.

To spread the joy of art and culture throughout the community, ArtMap is made widely available to the public at galleries and art spaces, museum and government institutions, community spaces and art/design fairs, heritage sites, and select schools, universities, hotels, cafés, and restaurants. Copies will also be distributed at events like Dubai Design Week and Abu Dhabi Art to ensure that participants make the most of all that is on offer.

Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the UAE’s rich heritage. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures to enhance Dubai's position as a creative and sustainable global city for culture, heritage, arts, and literature, with the aim to empower these sectors by developing creative and innovative projects and initiatives locally, regionally, and globally.