Alserkal to Launch Month-Long Art Programme

A new cultural chapter will unfold in Dubai as Alserkal prepares to launch Alserkal Art Month, a month-long initiative running from 18 April to 18 May. Expanding its annual Art Week into a broader platform, the programme will bring together artists, galleries and multidisciplinary collectives in a shared effort to sustain dialogue and creative exchange across the UAE’s arts ecosystem.

Centred in Alserkal Avenue, the initiative will span five weekends, transforming the district into a hub of exhibitions, public art and live programming. The opening on 18 April will see 16 contemporary gallery exhibitions unveiled simultaneously, marking the beginning of a programme designed to evolve through layered experiences and community engagement.

The programme will be anchored by a newly commissioned public artwork by Shilpa Gupta, titled “Still A Sky We Hold”. Building on her earlier work, the piece will act as a conceptual anchor, reflecting themes of shared resilience and collective imagination that will underpin the wider programme.

From 25 April to 8 May, Concrete will host Déjà vu, a curated group exhibition bringing together artists from 18 leading UAE galleries. Developed collaboratively, the exhibition will explore repetition and the uncanny rhythms of lived experience. Its themes will extend into Majlis Talks curated by Nadine Khalil, creating space for discussion and deeper engagement.

The programme will extend beyond exhibitions through Blank Space takeovers, where emerging collectives will activate warehouse spaces across disciplines including design, music and visual arts. Workshops led by Dirwaza Curatorial Lab, Chafa Ghaddar, Nora Zeid and Al Reem Al Beshr will further encourage participation and skill-sharing among audiences.

Public interventions will shape the rhythm of the month, with Slow Walks, poetry readings, performances and conversations bringing together voices from across the region. The Alserkal Arts Foundation will support this ecosystem through reading groups, open studios and performances, alongside grants of up to AED 10,000 for research-led projects.

The closing week from 14 to 17 May will coincide with Art Dubai 2026, featuring collaborative commissions and “Moving”, a four-day moving image programme presented across Alserkal Avenue and Madinat Jumeirah. A roundtable led by Alserkal Advisory will also convene key stakeholders to explore how arts institutions can deepen their community impact.

“For almost 20 years, Alserkal has helped shape the region’s cultural landscape into the vibrant scene it is today and it remains committed to openness and partnership, supporting an ecosystem that continues to adapt, evolve and endure. Alserkal Art Month is a tribute to the resilience and fortitude of the UAE’s arts ecosystem, and to the people who sustain it. Rooted in shared values, this month-long programme creates space for collaboration, dialogue and exchange at a time when that feels especially important,” said Vilma Jurkute.

As the city looks ahead, Alserkal Art Month will stand as a collective expression of resilience bringing together the creative community in a moment defined by connection, collaboration and cultural continuity.