On 19 March, 2012, the galleries at Alserkal Avenue will once again open their doors for some late night art viewing from 7 – 10pm. Art lovers will have the opportunity to do some serious gallery hopping, meeting artists and gallerists along the way, as well as check out the new creative spaces joining the Alserkal arts community.

Through the vision and support of Mr. Abdelmonem Alserkal, the Avenue is growing and attracting more creatives than ever. It is thrilled to welcome new art spaces during Art Dubai week, such as La Galerie Nationale, Grey Noise, Fayez Barakat, Showcase Gallery, Lammtara Pictures and FN Designs. The new additions within will bring a new wave of creativity, invite new talent as well as continue the dialogue between art and its community.

Coinciding with new design fair, Design Days Dubai, La Galerie Nationale will open its doors with a unique collection of designer collectible furniture items. I t will be the first gallery of its kind in the UAE, representing top designers of the 20th century, one of the most prolific periods in design. Audiences will be able to view works by some of history’s most innovative designers, including Jean Royère, Raymond Loewy, Willy Rizzo, Pierre Guariche, Marco Zanuso. Few of these original items still exist and La Galerie Nationale offers a unique chance to see these exceptional objects. With twenty years of experience in France and Europe, the gallery has now decided to open a representative gallery in Dubai.

Another exciting addition to Alserkal Avenue will be contemporary art space, Grey Noise, which is relocating to Dubai from Lahore, Pakistan. The gallery was launched in 2008 and last year featured at Art Dubai as part of the curated section, MARKER. The gallery will continue its focus on contemporary art from South Asia with an expanded programme aiming to promote new and often experimental streams of thought in art and culture. On 19 March viewers will be able to see opening exhibition, ‘Truth of the Matter’, in which artists Iqra Tanveer and Ehsan ul Haq explore how non-functional form brings a level of peculiarity within its meaning and its substance.

The new studio of Showcase will open its doors with an inaugural exhibition by Amartey Golding called ‘Laocrahc Savnac’. Not only will it be a new space to represent new artists and stimulate new talent but it will continue offering bespoke framing solutions.

Fayez Barakat is known as one of the most important dealers and collectors of ancient art in the world. His galleries across the world are treasure troves filled to the brim with fine antiques and his own collection of modern artworks. The new Barakat Gallery venture in Alserkal is sure to increase the footfall to the current hub of arts and creativity.

Two new design and media creative spaces will also join the roster, FN Designs and Lammtara Picutures. FN Designs are opening a new studio space dedicated to a programme merging graphic design, exhibitions and artist collaborations. The design studio offers graphic and product design services, and is also the driving force behind independent magazine AMOR (a magazine of random), a sporadic, intentional, experimental and personal magazine that celebrates people and their creative adventures. Awarding winning animation studio and Freej’ cartoon creators, Lammtara Picutures, will be the final addition to Alserkal Avenue’s creative community.

Aside from exploring the new spaces opening on 19 March, audiences will also be able to check out a fantastic series of exhibition openings at Ayyam Art Centre, Carbon12, Etemad Gallery, Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde, Green Art Gallery, Satellite, Lawrie Shabibi, The Mojo Gallery and Gulf Photo Plus, making it a night not to be missed. The extended roster of galleries will enrich Alserkal Avenue and provide a wider platform for engaging the international and local community through even more distinctive, open and interactive projects and events.

Alserkal Avenue’s community night will take place on 19 March, 2012, from 7 – 9pm. Alserkal Avenue will launch a new website for the community on February 29, 2012.