The inaugural Dubai Art Season, the citys umbrella arts initiative, launched by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirates dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, will showcase over 150 creative activities from March 14 to April 15, 2014, underlining the citys status as a global creative hub.

Dubai Art Season, unites five of the citys premier arts events including Art Week, the Middle East Film & Comic Con and Gulf Film Festival. Art Week celebrates three flagship events, SIKKA Art Fair, Design Days Dubai, and Art Dubai. Several panel discussions, workshops, performances, outdoor art projects and exhibitions will be held as part of the initiative.

Dubai Art Season will activate key venues in the city including Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, The Dubai Mall and Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, The Walk at JBR, Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), The Beach, and the Cultural & Scientific Association in Al Mamzar, among others, integrating the community with the growth of the citys fast-evolving creative landscape.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: The inaugural Dubai Art Season showcases the talent of our emerging artists, providing them a robust platform to engage with the community through a culturally enriching roster of events. Residents and visitors to our city can witness the creative potential of artists across all disciplines, further enabling them to develop a genuine appreciation for the arts.

Kicking off with Art Week, including SIKKA Art Fair, Design Days Dubai, and Art Dubai, Dubai Art Season will also feature Arts Night at the DIFC, where Dubai Culture has commissioned renowned British 3D artist Julian Beever for a live installation called Anamorphic Illusions, which is envisaged as a special distortion that creates a three dimensional experience, depending on where the viewer is standing.

The Dubai Mall, The Beach, The Walk at JBR will host an array of musical and multidisciplinary performances. Outdoor art installations will animate Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, and The Walk at JBR

Live mural paintings by local based artists, and 3D artist paintings, will be showcased at The Walk at JBR. DIFC and Al Serkal Avenue will host Galleries Nights, featuring music, art, and live entertainment. The American University of Dubai will be the venue of the Art Project by students from the university.

A special exhibit from the Middle East Film & Comic Con, entitled Art Wars, featuring 20 Stormtrooper helmets customised by UAE-based artists, and globally acclaimed artist Damien Hirst, will take the centrestage at The Dubai Mall.

The activities under Dubai Art Season will play an integral role in highlighting the growth of its creative industries within the regional and international circuit.

For more information or detailed insights on the Dubai Art Season programme, please visit: www.dubaiculture.ae, or follow Dubai Culture on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.