Dubai’s well-known cultural hub, Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, has launched a new initiative for the city’s creative community. Titled ‘Blank Space’, the programme will offer three dedicated spaces for a four-week residency, open to practitioners from a range of creative disciplines, as announced on its social media.
This includes creatives across a range of fields in Dubai, from design and craft to music, visual arts, filmmaking, photography, and multidisciplinary practices.
The Residency in Dubai at Alserkal Avenue
With the UAE going through an uncertain time, Alserkal Avenue has launched the Blank Space project, which provides a space and resources to creative collectives to make their work visible and engage with the wider community.
The goal is to facilitate collaboration between creative professionals across different fields.
Three collectives will be selected through an application process and given space to develop either a body of work or a programme with wider community impact.
Each collective will be expected to present its work publicly, whether through exhibitions, screenings, performances, or open studios, with a clear emphasis on audience engagement.
Notably, the collective does not need to be pre-existing and can be newly formed for the initiative. Individual applications are not accepted. Each group must have clearly defined roles and submit a cohesive, shared proposal.
How Should Creative Collectives Apply?
Each applying collective must craft a proposal of no more than 10 slides, outlining the following:
- The collective and its members
- The concept behind the project
- The activities planned
- How the space will be utilised
- How the work benefits the wider community’
- An activation plan for four weeks
- A public-facing element to engage audiences
Alserkal Avenue has emphasised its provision of a warehouse space with all amenities, equipment, materials and marketing and communications services to support the collectives.
What Collectives Should Know
Proposals should avoid any major structural changes to the space, keeping interventions minimal, flexible, and fully reversible.
There is also a strong emphasis on engaging with the wider creative community. Collectives are expected to keep their space active through workshops, performances, talks, or other creative sessions, all aligned with the overall vision of their proposal.
To submit your application, email leasing@alserkal.online or visit Alserkal Avenue’s social media page for more details.
All submissions must be made before 10th April, 2026.
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