Abu Dhabi culture spot Manarat Al Saadiyat reopens next month – with a whole host of exciting new facilities.
One of the shining jewels in the growing Saadiyat Cultural District will relaunch in November, with a brand new art studio, a fantastic photographic centre, a plush garden pavilion and a fresh Italian cafe now taking pride of place alongside along the wide-ranging facilities and activities already on offer.
Saadiyat’s cultural centre provides a wealth of interactive initiatives and programmes focused on art, design, music, film innovation and lifestyle.
The vibrant venue has also played host to Abu Dhabi Art (a huge creative festival which will again take over the city from November 8 to 11) since its inception back in 2009.
The Art Studio will bring hands-on arts education programmes, art classes, workshops and outreach initiatives to creative types of all ages in the emirate.
The newly-launched Teaching Artists Development Programme will harness the talents of university students and emerging artists with internship and mentoring opportunities.
The studio will also host an intimate theatre and performance space for the community to hold small-scale events, film screenings and other activities.
The Photography Studio will also be a breeding ground for developing talent. It will house a gallery, studio space and world-class facilities including an ‘alternative processes darkroom’, a library, and a variety of production equipment, including cameras, audio gear and lighting and printing facilities. There will also be specialised workshops and training sessions conducted by professional photographers hosting community-driven photography exhibitions as well as developing and promoting a year-round calendar of activities.
The Garden Pavilion is a new outdoor space providing an al fresco alternative for functions and events now the cooler weather has arrived, with everything from corporate meetings, yoga classes and even weddings being held here.
The new café and brasserie, called Larte, will have plenty of creative flair itself, in the form of its international array of coffee options to continental breakfasts, lunch and dinner choices, plus a variety of cakes, pastries and desserts, all served with warm Italian hospitality.
Alongside the eagerly-awaited next installment of Abu Dhabi Art, a diverse selection of workshops and classes will be held across the year, with daily events including yoga and fitness classes, parkour workshops and film screenings.
Throughout the year, Manarat Al Saadiyat will also put on a variety of musical performances by Bait Al Oud and Abu Dhabi Classics. For Performing Arts fans there will be year-round performances and drama classes.
His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General for the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, said: ““As Saadiyat Island’s first multidisciplinary creative space, Manarat Al Saadiyat has mirrored the development of a vibrant cultural community in the capital. As our audiences have grown, we have responded to create additional artistic and interactive cultural spaces. We are opening the newly renovated Manarat Al Saadiyat to reflect the growing public interest in the culture of the emirate. The new space and its diverse programme will offer a vibrant and interactive platform for the community to engage with a variety of artistic activities that bring the vision of Saadiyat Island to life. Manarat Al Saadiyat aims to provide a focal point for all audiences to connect in a community where artistic creativity is actively welcomed and celebrated.”
Alia Khalid Al Qassimi, head of Manarat Al Saadiyat, added: “Our freshly renovated centre now features lots of exciting new facilities and a whole host of great programming – so we are extremely delighted to be opening our doors to welcome the public.
“Manarat Al Saadiyat will now provide the perfect place for anyone and everyone to come, nurture and explore their creative skills. This new artistic space will offer the public somewhere to indulge their artistic appetites, whilst it will also help the creative community to expand and grow further.
“The launch of the new space, and its accompanying events, offers a vibrant, culturally rich platform for the community to engage with a variety of artistic activities that bring the vision of Saadiyat Island to life. It’s a place where everyone will have the opportunity to experience a special artistic moment.”
Manarat Al Saadiyat has also launched it’s a new website, www.manaratalsaadiyat.ae
The exact re-opening date in November is still to be confirmed, but the venue will be back open for the Abu Dhabi Art event, starting November 8.
