The Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC) has been incubating and nurturing art and artists in Dubai since its foundation in May 1976. Back then, Mary Jose, Caroline Jackson and a handful of artists felt the need to meet and exchange with each other their passion for art, and started meeting in the garage space of one of their villas. They drafted a constitution, registered themselves as a non profit organisation under the name Art Society of Dubai and for three years set about fundraising for a purposely builr arts centre .
In 1979, one of the villas on Jumeira road near the beach became their first home when Oscar Mandody, director of the Ruler's Affairs Department, offered to pay rent and facilities for the next three years while the society became self supportive. This address soon became a magnet for art enthusiasts in Dubai and led to the expansion of activities in response to the needs of the community. It was, in essence, a place for artists, run by artists, offering the chance to learn, grow, teach or simply practice arts and crafts. At the same time, it was not meant to be a secluded place. Over the years, this organization played a proactive role in stimulating and developing links with the community through taking art out to public places in the form of art exhibits and craft fairs; through organizing an annual water colour challenge where the public and media can watch artists paint in the famous landmarks around Dubai, and by involving all sectors of the community in competitions like the Photographic extravaganza where the public is invited to send in their photographs and attend the judging session held by an international judge.
 Growth came about organically, lending a 'no-pressure' 'home-away-from-home' feeling to the fondly named art centre in the old villa , which also ended up hosting a lending library, a frame shop, an art shop and a cafe. Along with growth came the search for identity which lead to several changes in the name from the 'Art Society of Dubai' to 'Folk Art Charity Association for Teaching and Showing' to 'The Dubai Arts Centre', and finally, since 1995, the 'Dubai International Art Centre.
 In 2003, the villa that hosted DIAC'S activities for over 25 years had to make way for new development plans. The Dubai International Art Centre moved to a temporary villa off Jumeira road and is at present searching for a more permanent home.
The current agenda of setting Dubai on the 'great-leap-forward' track has also set DIAC on a journey of re-birth. Today we remain quintessentially a non-profit community centre, with a 'safe-haven' feel, enriching the local art and culture scene, with over 1,500 members of 67 nationalities, representing a mini Dubai in colour. For the artist and art enthusiast DIAC offers an integral space equipped with the tools necessary to experience the real thing and develop a personal artistic journey. By organising biannual members exhibits and craft fairs the artists are empowered to market their work and form links to the public and media. For the art lover DIAC expands the horizon by organising opportunities for a closer encounter with art through inviting artists and collectors to speak or by organising visits to studios, galleries, and museums in Dubai and abroad. For local and international artists DIAC offers a platform to make an individual mark by exhibiting in its professionally run Gallery 76.
The Dubai International Art Centre may have started its journey floating, like a buoy, in the sea of ever-changing economic and social currents that characterize the lifestyle in the U.A.E., yet during its 30 years of experience the buoy evolved into an anchor, giving weight to the developing local art scene, and a point of reference to the newly arising art centres. Its miraculous survival, being owned by members and run by a board of volunteers, is the biggest proof of the necessity of its role as the breathing lung for the culture and art scene in Dubai.
Today, DIAC is privileged to have played a key role in fostering the spirit of art while Dubai was embarking on its journey of phenomenal growth. The strength of this relationship reveals itself every year during the Shopping Festival when DIAC is sourced out by the organisers to supply them with various art related needs. With its impromptu beginning, no-frill attitude, and grass-root links, the Dubai International Art Centre is perhaps the most honest representation of what was needed, and what was going on, on the artistic front in Dubai; and will continue, Inshallah, to carry on well into the future with its mission which commits to &offering an integral environment for artistic expression and pledges &to culturally and creatively enrich the local community by developing, stimulating, nurturing, encouraging and promoting artists, enthusiasts and art.
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