DIAC Newsletter  

DIAC: PERFECTLY ENGINEERED, PRICELESS AND TIMELESS!             MORE ABOUT THIS PICTURE IN ART MATTERS REVIEWS SECTION

At the AGM held end of March 2007,  the Members present decided that our new Chairman, John Davey, should go ahead and negotiate DIAC's union with DUCTAC, as a way of solving of our present housing crisis. Attached to this email you will find the open letter written to us all by DUCTAC, detailing the terms under which they will allow us to join with them.

Regrettably, the reality is rather different from Christopher Southcombe"s assurances to us at the AGM. The tone of DUCTAC’s offer is such that it is pointless to proceed any further. It is absolutely clear that to do so would mean not only the permanent dispersal of our assets and the loss of our trade license, but most importantly, the loss of our name and our ability to run our own affairs.

Since DUCTAC has an established management structure in which there would be  little room for our Board members, our future would no longer be in our control. We would cease to exist. It is clearly time to draw a line under this negotiation and to look positively at other alternatives.

First of all, we have decided to stay on in our present building in Jumeriah and term will begin as usual on APRIL 21st! Our landlord is now willing to renew our lease at an increased rent, but one we can manage.

We have also been told that we can appeal our trade licence, so we feel able to function comfortably for the foreseeable future, while we look further for long term solutions.

Those of you who have been to the Art Centre in the last few days will know that all our possessions are in boxes and our environment disassembled. It is almost as if we are moving in again.

It is a new beginning and the new Board would like to celebrate that.

Let us begin with-

For the last thirty years in a quite corner of Dubai there has existed a unique and remarkable organisation. The Dubai International Art Centre has been an important resource,  a gallery, a library, a learning centre and a home from home for the city’s art lovers for a generation. Through times of great change it remains a non-profit organisation, dedicated to the support and growth of the visual arts in Dubai and run by working artists.

 We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in Sheikh Mohammed’s commitment to the Arts by joining with us in a unique project. We are proud to announce the publication of a very special book. A book that draws  together the world of business with the community of the arts. Dubai Heart and Soul, is written to honour our city’s history, its Arabian culture and tradition- its inner beauty. It is distinctive in concept and content, compiled in a witty and original graphic style, a history in pictures interleaved with fascinating snippets of knowledge about the people, events and landmarks of an extraordinary place at an extraordinary time.

 Running through each page of Dubai Heart and Soul is a time-line marking year on year of the cities growth. To make our book very special, companies who purchase 50 or more copies of this distinctive keepsake can have the year of their foundation included in the time-line, marking their place in Dubai’s history. Each book will be presented in its own box printed with the company logo.

 DIAC is committed to the cultural and creative enrichment of the community through its encouragement and development of the arts, and its dedication to professional art education. It seeks to nurture and support all those with an interest in the arts, but this work has become increasingly difficult in the face of   commercial pressure. The money that is raised through the sale of Dubai Heart and Soul will help to support us and our contribution to Dubai’s future.

WEBSITE GALLERY

DIAC website has been up and running for 1 year now and we are receiving over 70 visits everyday. Within the website there is an icon called ARTISTS and we would now like to invite all the members to display their work or to have a link to their website.

There are 2 Categories:

Link to your website: Dhs 100 for 1 year

Space on DIAC Website: Starting Offer Dhs 250

Terms and Conditions:

You should supply 2 pictures of your artwork (7cm - 300dpi)

A profile/artists statement (130 – 150 words)

Information should be burnt on a cd.

For further information please contact the office.

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OFFICE TIMINGSFrom Saturday 2^nd Sept the office will be open:Saturday to Wednesday: 9.00am to 7.00pmThursday:  9.00am to 4.00pmClosed Friday

The following outlets around Dubai have joined our circle of 'FRIENDS OF

DIAC' and will give various discounts when shown a valid  DIAC Membership Card.

FRIENDS OF DIAC: