ART FESTIVAL The 8th Edition of Quoz Arts Fest Welcomed 38,000 Visitors

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai visits Quoz Arts Fest on 24 January 2020, with Alserkal Founder Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal and Alserkal Director Vilma Jurkute / Photography by Augustine Paredes. Courtesy of Alserkal

The 8th edition of Quoz Arts Fest by Alserkal, held on 24 & 25 January, welcomed 38,000 visitors to celebrate the depth and breadth of creativity across the arts that can be found in the industrial neighbourhood of Al Quoz.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai visited Quoz Arts Fest on 24 January, where he met Alserkal Founder Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal and Alserkal Director Vilma Jurkute and toured the festival.

The annual arts and culture festival, Quoz Arts Fest is led by thinkers and makers from the music, art, design, and performance realms in the UAE and beyond. The 8th edition featured over 190 performances, exhibitions, workshops, and events led by 120 cultural partners.

Highlights included a free concert by Jordanian-Palestinian shamstep band 47Soul, the exhibition New National Dish: UAE by Center for Genomic Gastronomy, produced by Alserkal, and inspired by FOOD: Bigger than the Plate at the V&A (supported by the British Council, DCMS, and GREAT through the UK-Gulf Culture and Sport Programme), Reel Palestine Film Festival closing screenings in collaboration with Cinema Akil, contemporary dance performances by Block Universe and Sima Dance Company, and the return of the Good Vibes Market.

Quoz Arts Fest, Alserkal Avenue Entrance / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest, 47Soul / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest, Infertile Crescent by Nadia Bseiso / Photo by Augustine Paredes. Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest, Photographs by Abdul Halik Azeez on Alserkal Avenue facade / Courtesy of Alserkal

Quoz Arts Fest, Skatepark Juma al Majid plot / Courtesy of Alserkal

Vilma Jurkute, Alserkal Director, said: “Quoz Arts Fest began as a way to celebrate the creative thinkers and makers of the Al Quoz neighbourhood and beyond. Our key mandate at Alserkal has always been to support the homegrown talent and artistic thought generated here, and the 8th edition of Quoz Arts Fest not only cemented its position as the region’s biggest arts and culture festival but also reinforced Alserkal Avenue and its initiatives as the heart of the GCC’s creative ecosystem. As we annually engage more than 600,000 visitors, with 38,000 visiting us during Quoz Arts Fest 2020, this reflects the commitment our community holds for arts and culture programmes, and Dubai’s position as a cultural epicentre.”

Alserkal has announced the 9th edition of Quoz Arts Fest will take place from 28-30 January 2021, expanding from a two-day annual festival into a three-day event.