Dubai as one of the cultural capitals of the world? Believe it. Or that’s at least what a brand new event in the city is pushing for.
The organisers of the first ever Street Night Art in Al Quoz want you to get out of the malls, into the streets and get creative. From 6pm to midnight on January 24, an entire stretch of road has been closed off where 70 of the city’s top artists will paint live, street artists will graffiti buses and independent bands and break dancers will perform through the night. The event is free to attend.
“When we planned Street Night Art we wanted to create an event done by the community for the community, where everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and contribute,” says Alexandre Teodoresco, one of the organisers and member of All Quoz Project, a collective to promote public art.
“The reason we wanted to do it outdoors in the streets of Al Quoz is because most of us grew up in countries where art was part of our daily life, where there are musicians playing on the buses, street art decorating the walls, sculptures in the park, etc. We hope that it will show that urban art can beautify a city, give it a special feel, and that it will become a nest of urban creativity.”
The event has been more than a year in the making, says Teodoresco.
“It took so long because it is something new in Dubai and we had to approach a multitude of stakeholders in order to get their collaboration. We were lucky to meet very supportive people at Dubai Events who understood what the project was all about. They gave us their full support and were visionary in allowing for such a community initiative.”
The evening will include two stages dedicated to performances by singers, cello players, drummers and DJs. Then, 50 children from a local charity will paint two labour buses with art while visitors can get involved and learn from artists as they work live.
Teaodoresco says there are already plans to make this an annual event.
“We hope that it will show that urban art can beautify a city, give it a special feel, and that it will become a nest of urban creativity,” he says. “Dubai is ready for it and has the potential to rise to the level of other major cultural capitals around the world.”
*Street Night Art is on January 24 from 6pm in Al Quoz, Dubai. Head to 4B Street, Al Quoz Industrial 1, right next to Times Square Mall. It is free to attend. For more on the event go to allquozproject.com/street-night-art
