ART EVENT The First Look at Alserkal Avenue Expansion as Middle East Art Scene Develops

Aerial view of Alserkal Avenue’s new expansion, March 2015. Photo by Mohamed Bin Mayed / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

Alserkal Avenue announced a selection of 15 new art galleries, cultural organisations and creative businesses to join the developing arts and culture hub in Dubai, in the fall of 2015. The news is the first in a series of announcements to take place throughout the summer in tandem with commissions and events by Alserkal Avenue’s newly established homegrown programme.

Speaking at the announcement, Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Alserkal Avenue Founder and Patron of the Arts commented, "Today, Alserkal Avenue is a community unlike any other. It is a community of creative visionaries, rising in union with the patronage and providence of our country’s leaders, who put culture at the core of their worldview. It is a community of creative thought leaders and talents who mark not only this new ground, but also the fabric of the city and country beyond, and the entire cultural landscape of the region."

Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Alserkal Avenue Founder and Patron of the Arts with Vilma Jurkute, Director of Alserkal Avenue. Press conference New Concepts Announcement, March 2015 / Courtesy of Lindsay Kircaldy

Contemporary art remains at the heart of the Avenue with premier international galleries making their first foray onto the regional stage, joining Alserkal Avenue’s existing network of more than 20 art galleries and cultural organisations developed since 2007. Leila Heller Gallery, New York, will join the Avenue with the opening of a Dubai location to exhibit an extensive programme of contemporary Western and Middle Eastern artists, including exceptional works from the twentieth century. The newly formed Stephane Custot Gallery, Dubai will establish itself on Alserkal Avenue to create a dialogue between influential modern masters and international contemporary artists from East and West. The gallery will open with an exhibition of Marc Quinn in fall 2015.

Vilma Jurkute, Director of Alserkal Avenue remarked, "The interest from international galleries in moving into MENA reflects the growth of the region's contemporary art scene. Together with our homegrown galleries, they create a strong foundation for dialogue, collaboration and exchange - all central to what Alserkal Avenue is passionate about and strongly invested in."

Alserkal Avenue Expasnion Unvieling Dinner, Art Week, March 2015 / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

The galleries will be joined by Paris-initiated Jean-Paul Najar Foundation, a partnership with Alserkal Avenue, which will present European and American post-minimal works from the 1960s through the 1990s and host a programme of activities around abstraction. Bringing local flavour to the lineup of contemporary art galleries, regional pioneer The Third Line, Dubai, which represents preeminent Middle Eastern contemporary artists, including Monir Farmanfarmaian and Farhad Moshiri, will move to its new home on the Avenue.

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015 / Courtesy of Lindsay Kirkcaldy

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015 / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015 / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

As Alserkal Avenue develops as an arts organisation with international reach, arts and cultural organisations on the Avenue will be supported by a strong homegrown programme featuring live-in artist studio residencies and a cultural radio project. Tairone Bastien, Programming Director of Alserkal Avenue added, "These new platforms are initiatives through which Alserkal Avenue will be working directly with artists going forward, establishing new forums to connect and give voice to the region’s artists."

The Avenue’s existing performing arts will be complimented by the addition of a new community black-box theatre The Junction, and the established community arts space thejamjar. Design will also be represented on the Avenue with MB& F M.A.D. Gallery, Geneva/Taipei featuring kinetic art and limited edition design with a focus on horology, and Nostalgia Classic Cars which will pay homage to vintage car design, alongside international architecture and design firm SVENM, and the multidisciplinary Limah Design Consultants. Inter | act design studio will focus on creating interactive installations that influence the surrounding spatial experience.

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015, Hazem Harb, commission by Alserkal Avenue / Courtesy of Lindsay Kirkcaldy

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015, Hazem Harb, commission by Alserkal Avenue / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015, Manal Aldowayan, Nostalgia Classic Cars / Courtesy of Lindsay Kirkcaldy

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015, Rami Farook, The Third Line / Courtesy of Lindsay Kirkcaldy

Alserkal Avenue, Galleries Night, March 2015,Maria Thereza Alvez, Art Dubai Projects commissions in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue / Courtesy of Lindsay Kirkcaldy

Alserkal Avenue, March 2015,Maria Mehreen Murtaza, Art Dubai Projects commissions in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue / Courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

The Alserkal Avenue experience will go beyond the expected in culinary excellence including new creatives such as Inked, Good Vibes Market and Wild and the Moon.

In line with its mission to advance the growth of art and culture in the region by nurturing a diverse and sustainable ecosystem, Alserkal Avenue will make further announcements on homegrown initiatives and new concepts in 2015.