Alserkal has announced Alserkal Art Month, a collective expression of the resilience of the arts ecosystem in the UAE. The event runs from 18 April to 18 May, across Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, and will bring together artists, curators, cultural practitioners and multidisciplinary collectives for a month of exhibitions, talks, performances, workshops and public art.
The programme, which will span five weekends, will begin on 18 April as Alserkal Avenue’s contemporary art galleries preview their exhibitions as originally planned. The closing week, which will take place from 14 to 17 May, during Art Dubai, will feature art commissions in partnership with the fair.
At the heart of the month is Shilpa Gupta’s newly reworked public artwork, 'Still A Sky We Hold'. The broader programme is designed to create space for dialogue and cultural exchange during a difficult moment for the regional arts scene. Visitors can expect new exhibitions in Alserkal Avenue’s contemporary galleries, public art commissions and interventions, the Déjà Vu exhibition at Concrete, Majlis Talks, workshops, space takeovers, reading groups, open studios and performances hosted by Alserkal Arts Foundation.
-25.jpg)
One of the most significant parts of the programme is the support being extended to the local creative community. Alserkal Arts Foundation has been working to help UAE-based artists, researchers and practitioners continue their work through studio takeovers and participatory programming. During Art Month, the Foundation will host reading groups by Chafa Ghaddar, open studios with Alla Abdunabi and Maryam Ahli, and a performance by Asareh Ebrahimpour. The Foundation has also established grants of up to Dhs 10,000 for research-led projects within its network.
For visitors, the good news is that entry to the event is free for everyone. The venue’s general opening hours are 10am to 7pm daily, although individual galleries and concepts may operate on different schedules.