Immersed in arts and culture in Al Ain | Visit Abu Dhabi
Discover impressive cultural and artistic programmes at Al Qattara Arts Centre in Al Ain!
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Immerse yourself in authentic culture, arts and history in Abu Dhabi’s garden city of Al Ain, just an hour and a half away from the capital. Al Ain is home to a number of world heritage sites, as well as the impressive Al Qattara Arts Centre, where art and culture is celebrated. Come to Al Ain for all things artistic and cultural.
Opened in 2011, Al Qattara Arts Centre has been developed around the historic Bayt Bin Ati al-Darmaki fort, also known as the Al Qattara Fort. Situated in Abu Dhabi’s green garden city and heritage heartland of Al Ain, this traditional mud-brick tower and house is located on a mound overlooking the date-palm gardens of Qattara Oasis, which it was built to protect.
Showcasing carefully restored traditional local architecture, the centre aims to provide a family-friendly venue where arts and culture can be studied, practised and developed by the entire UAE community and visiting travellers.
During the creation of the Qattara Arts Centre, archaeological excavations revealed a five-metre sequence of archaeological layers or ‘horizons’ reaching back from the Late Islamic period to the Iron Age, some 3,000 years ago. The Iron Age industrial installations forming the earliest phase of this sequence are displayed within a specially redesigned basement. On show to the public, these emphasise Al Ain’s incredible archaeological finds and highlight the importance of the area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, throughout the ages.
The centre offers impressive cultural and artistic programmes covering local artistic traditions and practices perfect for people of all ages. A dry studio is used for a variety of activities, including music classes and art crafting, while a wet studio is available for drawing and painting. It also boasts a fully-equipped pottery studio, a digital room suitable for photography and computer classes, a spacious calligraphy studio, an exhibition hall and a café. Additionally, it includes a gallery and library.
There are also a series of virtual workshops and courses on offer for the entire family, giving art enthusiasts a chance to immerse themselves in the creative arts scene. Running monthly and organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the courses cater to both adults and children. It aims to teach the basics of technical skills painting, drawing, singing, pottery and oud and piano classes, among others.
If cultural travel is high on your agenda, there are many more fantastic places to discover on your UAE trip, in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. If you’re heading to the UAE on a Dubai vacation, come to Abu Dhabi for a few days too, you won’t regret it!
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