There has been a booming art and cultural scene in the United Arab Emirates over the last decade. In addition to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s Etihad Museum, and the Sharjah Museums, artist studios, such as Bait 15, and cultural centers, such as Abu Dhabi’s recently renovated Qasr Al Hosn, welcome both locals and international tourists, providing a wide range of cultural experiences. Privately owned establishments have also emerged, such as Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation and Dubai’s Women’s Museum. The forthcoming openings of the Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Museum of the Future have also gained widespread international attention.

While this portfolio of megaprojects and art institutions has put the UAE on the global cultural map, there is still a need for small-scale grassroots arts initiatives and bottom-up enterprises to contribute to the localization of this sector. Munira Al Sayegh, a curator specialized in contemporary art, and Gaith Abdulla, a writer focusing on regional sociopolitical topics, share a passion for collecting art. A simple idea of organizing an art sale for local artists not represented by a gallery prompted them to create the multifaceted and community-focused platform 101. AGSIW spoke to the Emirati co-founders about their platform, launched during the coronavirus lockdown, and their views about the current dynamics of the local art ecosystem.

When asked about the germination for 101, Munira told AGSIW “Both of us were very much involved in the arts, either emotionally, socially, or professionally, and we have been brainstorming ideas for years.” Gaith added “The initial idea was conceived during hyper-COVID days, in the early stages of lockdown, when people were thinking that the economy was collapsing, and things seemed bleak. There was this whole perception that the community needed to get together and support artistic practices. Artists were very much impacted by the closing of shows, and we just felt like this was an opportunity to show support.”

Munira explained: “101 is a platform that goes three ways. We have the artists and the collectors who engage through the art sale, and then we have the research element. We are looking to inform and generate new content about the arts, from the region, for the region, and for all the others who are interested in what we are doing. But the idea, first and foremost, is to have a foundational base of financial support for artists.”

101 interacts with its audience using multiple settings. The website features handpicked artists and affordable artwork for sale. The research section includes a selection of academic pieces focusing on topics from identity and museology to feminism, as they relate to the Gulf context. The initiative also gives the participating artists a voice through short video clips posted on its Instagram page. Another important element is the curated art sale shows. Two shows have been organized so far in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the founders plan to hold these small art exhibitions quarterly.

Both founders stress accessibility and the importance of having both an online and physical presence. Munira said, “The first step for us was to make things happen online, that was our initial intention. But what is interesting is that the majority of our sales happened after curatorial walkthroughs of the exhibition. It is important to note that looking at art in the flesh is very different than seeing it through a screen. It is important for art to exist in its essence, in its core, in its nature.” Gaith added “We wanted to have a website that was user friendly, accessible, and open with information to signal that buying art is not so scary. I think this is very important in terms of how we exist online.” Gaith reiterated Munira’s position on the significance of in-person exhibitions saying, “Seeing art in person as opposed to digitally is a whole conceptual argument, in terms of what art is and isn’t. We realize that there are pros and cons to both, but it is important to have both.”

The founders also shared their objective of being language accessible and their future goal of being a fully bilingual Arabic and English platform. “I do not think it is possible for anything of substance to exist in the Gulf if it isn’t bilingual. If it is going to be only in Arabic, it is going to exclude the international. If it is going to be only in English, it is going to miss a lot of the realities. Art is also very jargon heavy. In many ways it is off-putting to the general public and can be seen as elitist. This is something we recognize, and this is why we push to have all of our content produced to move away from what is called ‘International Art English.’”

Munira and Gaith emphasize community building and cultivating robust dialogue. Munira expressed her gratitude for the community support since the launch of 101 saying, “Our first art sale exhibition at Bait 15 happened organically because we had community support and the network exists. For our second sale, we reached out to Alserkal Foundation, which gave us 24 hour-access to its public spaces. Munira added with enthusiasm, “Our second sale was fantastic! The community aspect was incredible, and I think that is when we started to realize that there was something about what we were doing that was working. People who came to the warehouse were not the people that we know or usually see. We met new people who were not collectors. They didn’t buy, but they were very present and engaged with us.”

The founders based the selection of artists and researchers on their own connections and word of mouth, which helped them discover hidden talents. Research and exhibition themes are also inspired by community-based conversations. “So far, there isn’t a link between the research themes and the art sales. The first batch of content was just about topics we believe are important and relevant. Not thematically relevant but conceptually relevant to what collecting is.”

Initiated out of necessity to support the local art scene, during globally challenging times, 101 exemplifies the potential and proactive involvement of community-level and millennial-led initiatives. The emergence of platforms such as 101 shows eagerness of the younger generation to fill existing gaps and participate in fostering homegrown initiatives, paving the way for a locally anchored art and culture ecosystem.