What is Quoz Arts Fest 2024?
Quoz Arts Fest is an annual cultural festival held in the Al Quoz neighborhood of Dubai. 2024 marks the 11th edition of this vibrant event which celebrates community, culture, and art. The festival provides a platform for creative individuals to showcase their talents across various mediums like music, dance, film, visual arts, and more.
Quoz Arts Fest 2024 will take place over two days on January 27th and 28th at Alserkal Avenue. Alserkal Avenue is a hub for contemporary art, home to many art galleries, creative spaces, and cultural institutions. The avenue makes for an ideal venue to host the diverse programs lined up for the festival.
Date and Timings
Duration
The 11th edition of Quoz Arts Fest will take place over two days on the 27th and 28th of January 2024. The two-day format creates an immersive cultural experience and gives visitors the chance to revisit favorite attractions.
Timings
Timings for Quoz Arts Fest 2024 are from 10 AM to 11:30 PM on both days. The late closing time allows people to catch evening performances and nighttime installations lit up in their full glory.
The afternoon heat is avoided by starting at 10 AM. The late-night closing enables working professionals and families to attend after regular hours. The extended timings make the festival accessible for visitors with varying schedules and preferences.
Programs and Performances
Quoz Arts Fest 2024 promises to be a celebration of performing arts, visual arts, music, and film. Festival-goers can expect a packed schedule featuring contemporary dance pieces, live music shows, art installations, pop-up markets, and movie screenings.
Renowned artists from the UAE and overseas will lead many of the highlight events. Alongside established names, the festival provides emerging creative talents a space to share their work. It brings together traditional art forms and avant-garde expressions for an electrifying mix of programs.
Visitors can look forward to surprise performances as they explore Alserkal Avenue. The industrial aesthetic of the venue shall complement the array of dynamic and innovative programs on show. An atmosphere of creative energy and community bonding awaits all attendees.
Dipesh Pandya performance
Based between Dubai and Mumbai, Dipesh Pandya is a dancer and choreographer known for his collaborative, multidisciplinary projects. At Quoz Arts Fest 2024, he presents Moving Pixels – a performance investigating the relationship between dance and technology.
The piece incorporates VR technology and interactive video projections that react to the dancer’s movements. Harmonious choreography meets digital innovation to create a unique performance merging real and virtual environments.
Alongside the show, Pandya shall have an installation titled ‘Impermanence’ in the Shape area of Alserkal Avenue. Visitors can interact with the mixed-media artwork which combines sculpture, sound, and lighting effects.
Melody and poetry by Lebanese duo, Hani Manna and Petra Hawi
Hani Manna and Petra Hawi shall bring their acclaimed ‘Scent of Words’ show to Quoz Arts Fest. Their act combines Hawi’s distinctive vocals with Manna’s oud playing for an evocative audio-visual experience.
As Petra recites original Arabic poems, Hani provides an improvised oud soundtrack. Petra’s dynamic delivery shifts fluidly between spoken word, song, and theatrical narration. Hani’s musical artistry elicits different moods to match her verses.
Their dazzling synergy and rich Arabic aesthetics are sure to captivate the audience. Their lyrical performance shall celebrate the unifying power of poetry and music from the region.
Kave’s Market of Misfits
Kave is an interdisciplinary artist from Dubai known for conceptual projects critiquing consumer culture. For Quoz Arts Fest, she presents ‘Market of Misfits’ – an experimental souk featuring upcycled products.
All items at this eccentric pop-up market are handmade by Kave from waste materials like broken electronics, discarded fabrics, and scrap metal. Shoppers can browse quirky home decor pieces, avant-garde fashion items, and one-of-a-kind artworks.
The unconventional retail experience aims to challenge the idea of what has value. It promotes mindful consumption while highlighting how everyday trash can be imaginatively transformed.
Performance by electronic music duo, Chamaeleon
German-Emirati electronic duo Chamaeleon is set to deliver an audiovisual feast at Quoz Arts Fest 2024. Their experimental performance combines 3D motion graphics with layered synth textures and pulsing beats.
As virtual animations react to the music in real time, the audience is immersed in a seamless flow of digitally manipulated sights and sounds. The pioneering AV show exemplifies how technology can enable innovative artistic expressions.
Chamaeleon’s forward-thinking electronic music also features Arabic influences and regional collaborations. Their progressive sonic palette reflects the UAE’s standing as a global hub bridging cultures.
Folk and pop-infused tunes by Amina
Emerging singer-songwriter Amina shall enthrall audiences with her distinct indie pop stylings. Her music fuses the intricate melodies of Khaleeji folk with electronic beats and lush pop harmonies.
Lyrically, Amina touches upon personal themes like love, longing, and healing. But she deftly balances intimate musings with dancefloor-ready production. Her infectious tunes make folk traditions resonate with contemporary sounds.
Amina’s musicality shines through both in the evocative poetry of her songwriting and effortless vocal delivery. Her performance promises to win over listeners with the universal appeal of folk-pop fused with regional flavors.
Screening of Palestinian indie movies
Quoz Arts Fest hosts a special screening of short films presented by Palestinian cinema collective, Reel Palestine. The showcase brings critically acclaimed movies from the annual Palestine Cinema Days festival to Dubai audiences.
The selection includes top shorts tackling both personal and political themes around the Palestinian experience. Some highlight everyday stories while others employ symbolism or humor to comment on struggle and resistance.
By programming these festival favorites, Quoz Arts Fest boosts the profile of Palestinian independent cinema. The nuanced films stand to build cultural bridges and affect perspectives around the region’s issues.
Souk by Reel Palestine
In addition to the movie showcase, Reel Palestine sets up shop at the festival with the ‘Souk Cinema’ pop-up market. The concept store offers film-inspired products from Palestine and the wider Arab world.
Visitors can browse books, posters, collectibles, and more while interacting with artists and filmmakers from the collective. Souk Cinema provides a space to continue the cultural conversation sparked by the Reel Palestine screening.
Sales from the market support the Palestinian film community to keep producing impactful and humanizing stories. By shopping at Souk Cinema, visitors directly empower these creative efforts towards positive change.
Performance by Big Hass
Quoz Arts Fest visitors can catch a high-energy hip-hop show by Emirati rapper Big Hass. The talented musician is known for fusing Arabic poetry and regional idioms with old-school flows.
Hass’ intricate wordplay and sharp social commentary resonate with Arab youth while paying homage to the origins of hip-hop. His slick rhymes ride heavy trap beats as he engages the crowd with quick-witted punchlines.
The homegrown act represents regional talent on the international stage, having opened for artists like French Montana. By headlining Quoz Arts Fest, Big Hass underlines the UAE’s promising hip-hop landscape.
Performance by Sudanese artist, MarSimba
Gifted singer-songwriter MarSimba flies down from Khartoum to share her soulful acoustic tunes. Drawing influence from jazz, reggae, and afrobeat rhythms, her music conveys inspiring messages of strength and spirituality.
MarSimba’s velvety vocals and uplifting lyrics create a cathartic experience for audiences. Meanwhile, her virtuosic guitar skills add dazzling textures to the stripped-down acoustic arrangements.
At Quoz Arts Fest, MarSimba’s performance promises to be a heart-warming showcase of musical talent meeting positive energy. Her universal appeal makes her a rising star to watch on the Sudanese independent scene.
Ticket Details
Visitors can purchase Quoz Arts Fest tickets online via the festival’s website or on location during event days. Here are the ticket rates for 2024:
- Online 2-day pass – AED 63 (Full weekend access)
- Single day pass at the venue – AED 63
- Free entry for students under 18 (requires registration)
- Free entry for senior citizens over 60
How to access the festival
The nearest metro station to the festival venue is Al Safa Station on the red line. Al Quoz is also accessible via RTA bus service route 110, which departs from the bus station by Al Safa metro station every 12 minutes.
Apart from public transport, visitors can use dedicated ride-hailing services and taxis to reach Alserkal Avenue in the Al Quoz Industrial Area.
Relevant details for visitors
Well-behaved leashed pets are allowed at the Quoz Arts Fest, so visitors can bring their furry companions along.
The festival has arrangements for differently abled access including wheelchair ramps, accessible washrooms, and dedicated parking spots.
Free WiFi shall be available at the venue. Visitors can connect to the network ‘Quoz Arts Fest’ using the password ‘ArtQuoz2022’.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the food trucks and stalls on-site. However, visitors can also carry their own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
The festival encourages attendees to use public transport and carpool due to limited parking. Visitors driving to Alserkal Avenue are advised to park at the paid open lots nearby.
Conclusion
The 11th Edition of the Quoz Arts Fest promises to be an exciting two-day celebration of performing arts, visual arts, music, and film. Happening on the 27th and 28th of January at Alserkal Avenue, the festival brings creative talents from over 15 countries to Dubai.
The programming showcases the best of traditional and contemporary Arab culture alongside pioneering cross-border collaborations. Notable highlights include mixed-media exhibits, indie movie screenings, live music performances, and more.
With tickets starting from AED 63, the festival offers an accessible and immersive cultural experience for visitors. The extended timings allow audiences to fully embrace the vibrant atmosphere and dynamic installations.
Quoz Arts Fest 2024 is set to be the emirate’s standout creative event that brings together communities through the universal language of arts. It promises to be an unforgettable weekend celebrating the rich diversity of artistic expressions.
