Kutubna Cultural Center, Dubai’s newest independent bookstore and cultural center, is launching a new program of guided tours of the center’s ongoing art exhibitions, as well as creative writing and art-making workshops for school field trips. From September 10 to October 26, students can visit the new exhibit “One Hundred Years of Painting: Arab Art from 1916 to 2017”, and thereafter they can visit the center for future exhibits.
The school tours are designed to spark interest and inspire students of all ages and educational needs to learn about the art and literature scenes in the Gulf and in the UAE specifically. Each tour lasts approximately two hours and gives the students a rich visual arts experience and the opportunity to learn about authors and book publishing in the UAE.
The guided art tour offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the history of art in Middle East and North Africa. The workshop that follows the tour is an interactive hands-on experience, where students will be encouraged to engage more deeply with art on exhibit and writers and publishers from the community.
Students will learn about books by notable Khaleeji authors, publishers in the UAE, and important contemporary Arab artists and their artworks. The workshops allow students to enrich learning outcomes and express their creative side meaningfully via writing, drawing, and painting. They will also be able to reflect on the center’s exhibits and explore ideas through writing and art. Finally, workshops culminate with discussions about the experience of producing creative works and sharing these works.
Shatha Almutawa, founder and director of Kutubna Cultural Center, said: “Our goal with the new school tours is to give students unique real-world experiences that complement their learning in the classroom. At Kutubna, we celebrate creativity and scholarship. The school tours play a key role in community building and creating a space for exchange and creative expression for all. We cannot wait to welcome the first school groups at our center.”
The tours and workshops cost 35 AED per student. In line with the center’s commitment to accessibility, Kutubna offers fellowships to cover the cost for three students from each class. The center is also open to hosting tours at reduced rates if this price is too high for some communities.
For more information about the school tours, schools can get in touch via WhatsApp at +971505837714, or email [email protected] to book a tour. The tours are offered at various times throughout the week to accommodate school schedules.
