Dubai-based contemporary art and design incubator Tashkeel has opened a creative facility housed in Alserkal Avenue’s Warehouse 89, in the city’s western neighbourhood of Al Quoz.
The new Tashkeel Makerspace responds to the current demand among established and emerging creators to access several high-specification equipment that provide a range of processes using a variety of materials to experiment, prototype, and produce.
Located close to Tashkeel Gallery, Tashkeel Makerspace enables artists and designers to make high-quality pieces of art using acrylic, paper, textile, wood, and other materials. The creative work space provides a list of commercial services including acrylic, cardboard, paper, textile, and wood laser cutting; giclée and sublimation digital printing using state-of-the-art printers and museum quality papers; and RISO printing, one of the most environmentally friendly printing methods available today.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, Deputy Director of Tashkeel, says that a key requirement for the ongoing growth of the UAE’s expanding creative and cultural industries are spaces where artists and designers can conceive, develop, and deliver work. “Tashkeel Makerspace has been opened to meet this growing demand. Incubating ideas and fostering innovation have been at the heart of Tashkeel for the last 15 years. The opening of this new facility in Alserkal Avenue community coinciding with the renovation of our main centre in Nad Al Sheba, will allow Tashkeel to continue nurturing creativity in the UAE,” adds Ball-Lechgar.
All the equipment available at Tashkeel Makerspace can be used by members, subject to an induction. With a new fast track process, gaining membership is easier to become part of a community of like-minded creatives who enjoy exclusive events as well as facilities such as a communal art studio; screen printing equipment including exposure unit, vacuum bed, and washing station; etching press; and heat press. Besides preferential rates for printing and cutting services, members also receive guidance and support from the Tashkeel team, a weekly Art News Digest, a profile on Tashkeel website’s ‘Artist Finder’, chances to apply for the First Solo Residency at Tashkeel Al Fahidi, access to visiting international artists and designers-in-residence as well as mentorship, and opportunities for teaching and studying.
Tashkeel Makerspace is also open to the public who want to build their practical skills through a seasonal programme of courses and workshops. They can also book laser cutting, digital, and RISO printing services at the work space. Tashkeel Makerspace is open on all days (except Fridays and public holidays) from 10am to 7pm.
Established in Dubai in 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel seeks to provide a nurturing environment for the growth of contemporary art and design rooted in the UAE with multidisciplinary studios, galleries, and work spaces located at Nad Al Sheba, Al Fahidi, and the latest at Alserkal Avenue. Alserkal Avenue is a vibrant community of contemporary art galleries, visual and performing arts organisations, designers, and artisanal spaces. The Avenue is an essential platform for the UAE’s emerging artists and cultural practitioners, creative entrepreneurs, and homegrown initiatives.
