Hala Badri explores Quoz Arts Fest, commends artistic innovation

Art and Culture

Hala Badri explores Quoz Arts Fest, commends artistic innovation

Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), visited the 14th edition of Quoz Arts Fest, reaffirming the authority’s commitment to supporting Dubai’s creative community and strengthening the emirate’s position as a global hub for the creative economy.

Organised by Alserkal Avenue, with support and strategic partnership from Dubai Culture and the Al Quoz Creative Zone, Quoz Arts Fest has become a key platform for celebrating local and regional talent. The festival featured a wide-ranging programme of musical performances, art installations, workshops, talks, and culinary experiences that brought together artists, creatives and the wider community.

During her tour, Badri was accompanied by Khulood Khoory, Director of the Design Department at Dubai Culture, and Saleh Al Breiki, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Dubai Culture. They were joined by senior representatives from Alserkal Initiatives and Alserkal Avenue, including Vilma Jurkute, Executive Director of Alserkal Initiatives, Basmah El Bittar, Director of Alserkal Avenue, Caroline White, Head of the Executive Office at Alserkal Initiatives, and Mahnoor Haque, VIP Relations Manager at Alserkal Initiatives.

The delegation explored several prominent artworks and exhibitions, including Tape Dubai by NUMEN/For Use, which reflects themes of freedom, joy and the positive social impact of creativity. They also viewed Floe – Dream City, an immersive installation by circus artist Jean-Baptiste André and visual artist Vincent Lamouroux.

Badri also visited a number of festival highlights, including In the Space of Becoming at Aisha Alabbar Gallery, where artist Alia Lootah presented new works combining painting, drawing and sculpture. She attended a live performance by Shabab on Stage 0.2, which also hosted a series of talks by Afikra, a leading media and education platform. Other stops included Fujifilm and Gulf Photo Plus’ immersive photography activation, Vinyl Souk featuring a DJ set by Kamelia, and Play Back in Time: A Kids’ Warehouse Takeover, led by Strawberry Fields, offering creative activities for younger visitors.

On the sidelines of the visit, Badri met with participating artists and the winners of the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition. The winners included Hamad Khoory, founder of Badawis, a digital games company inspired by local heritage; Sofia Kamelday, founder of Art Deep, a platform offering workshops and curated cultural events; and Nizar Ahmadi, founder and CEO of MADE, a music, art and entertainment platform connecting UAE creatives with organisations seeking talent.

Commenting on the festival, Badri praised Quoz Arts Fest for its clear vision and the diversity of work on display. She highlighted its role in providing artists with a visible platform to share ideas, collaborate and grow, while supporting the long-term development of Dubai’s cultural and creative industries. She reaffirmed Dubai Culture’s commitment to nurturing future generations of creatives and fostering an environment that attracts talent from around the world, in line with Dubai’s vision to be a global centre for culture and creativity.