Staying in the UAE during the holidays? Check out our guide to five of the best arts-related activities for families in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Emirati Expressions
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
This group exhibition, which opened at Abu Dhabi Art in November, runs through March 31 and is wonderfully interactive, making it your best bet for introducing the kids to a lifelong love of museums. Teenagers, who are forever behind their smartphones, will enjoy Hind bin Demaithan's ... whay hy ilyama'a (... and this is a get together), a majlis that incorporates iPhone-themed video installation and invites visitors to lounge and explore. The signs encouraging visitors to touch, sit, move and play throughout the exhibition will make for a stress-free visit for parents who are tired of having to say "don't touch" when it comes to art.
• Visit www.saadiyatculturaldistrict.ae/en/
Sermin Kardestuncer Solo Exhibition
XVA Gallery, Al Fahidi, Dubai
Head down to XVA Gallery to visit Sermin Kardestuncer’s solo show. The Turkish artist’s sculptures, mixed-media works on rice paper and hand-stitched installations should make for good table conversation as you enjoy healthy Middle Eastern fusion cuisine in the gallery’s leafy courtyard. Afterwards, get out your sketchbooks and pencils and explore the neighbourhood on foot to seek drawing inspiration from wind towers, dhows and the bustling souq beyond.
• Sermin Kardestuncer's solo show runs until February 3. The XVA Café is open daily from 7am to 9.30pm. Visit www.xvagallery.com
Camp Igloo
Ductac, Dubai
The community art centre at Mall of the Emirates is offering a winter art camp for children ages 5 to 11. “By spending time doing art, children improve focus and develop skills and abilities in visual learning,” says Toma Gabor, Ductac’s sculpture tutor. “Art is a language that can express with shapes, volumes and colours; things that words and numbers cannot describe.” The action-packed schedule focuses on arts and crafts, as well as clay modelling (pottery). Participants will have the chance to paint self portraits, sculpt snowflakes, experiment with watercolour techniques and more.
• Camp Igloo, 9.30am to 1pm, runs from Sunday until December 31. Pre-registration is essential. For pricing and other information, call 04 341 4777 or visit ductac.org
La Serre Boulangerie
Dubai
Imagine yourselves as artists in Paris enjoying cafe culture with a visit to La Serre Boulangerie, where you’ll dine on French cuisine while surrounded by local art. The restaurant’s newly launched Aspiring Artists Initiative uses the walls to highlight works by emerging UAE talents. This month’s featured artist is Australian painter Jessica Wilson-Thorp, whose kaleidoscopic canvases and flitting butterflies might just inspire younger family members to dream of becoming artists themselves.
• Visit www.laserre.ae
Funntastic Winter Camp
Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah
Cartoon and tech-loving children, ages 7 to 12, will enjoy the Funntastic Winter Camp at the recently revamped Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah. FUNN, an organisation established by the Sharjah Government to promote passion in media art, is hosting the workshop, where children will be introduced to animation, storyboard creation and other stop-motion techniques created on computers. Best of all, the camp is free.
• Funntastic Winter Camp, 9am to 2pm, is from January 3 to 7. Registration essential at 06 556 6555 or email rsvp@maraya.ae
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