421 Arts Campus Announces Fall 2024 Program Focused on Environmental and Ecological Themes
Taking place from September 22 onwards, the Fall 2024 Program explores the healing power of nature and features a range of community-driven events
Installation view: Way of the Forest at 421 Arts Campus. Photography by Ismail Noor/Seeing Things
We would like to announce our Fall 2024 program, which runs until December 21. Over the last four consecutive fall programs, 421 has presented major exhibitions dedicated to the study of environmental and ecological decay. This season explores the healing power of nature, embracing themes from Way of the Forest– a traveling edition of the 8th Colomboscope arts festival. The program features a range of community-driven events, including films and workshops, and will be welcoming back some 421 favorites such as Jamming Sessions, peer-reviewed Writing Circles, Khayal Series, and monthly Performance Co/Labs.
A detailed schedule of the Fall 2024 program is outlined below:
Exhibitions
Way of the Forest
Traveling exhibition
8th edition of Colomboscope arts festival
Gallery 1 and 2
September 22 - December 29, 2024
Opening on September 22, the exhibition features the work of 19 artists from South Asia, South West Asia, and Africa. Way of the Forest converges artistic pathways to rekindle knowledge of interdependence, custodianship, and restorative practices across rainforests, wilderness, mountain cultivations, and riverine wetlands. Taking over Galleries 1 and 2 inside 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi, it invites approaching the forest as a multispecies school – moving from the curriculum of plunder, reckless supremacy and extinction, to embrace its lessons in organic networks of mutual aid and restorative balance beyond the human sensorium.
Way of the Forest is the 8th edition of the Colomboscope arts festival held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from January 19 to 28, 2024. This iteration of the festival at 421 Arts Campus has been adapted to reach audiences in the UAE, and marks the second time partnering with Colomboscope.
Participating artists are Moza Almatrooshi, Rakibul Anwar, U. Arulraj, Nahla Al Tabbaa, Shiraz Bayjoo, Jayatu Chakma, Pathum Dharmarathna, Saodat Ismailova, Tamarra Jayasundera, Karachi LaJamia, Sanod Maharjan, Sangita Maity, Otobong Nkanga, Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah, MTF Rukshana, Sarmila Sooriyakumar with Pirainila Krishnarajah, Thava Thajendran, Kulagu Tu Buvongan, and Karunasiri Wijesinghe.
This exhibition is curated by Natasha Ginwala (Artistic Director, Colomboscope), Hit Man Gurung (artist and curator), Sarker Protick (artist and curator), Sheelasha Rajbhandari (artist and curator), and Vidhi Todi (Assistant Curator, Colomboscope 2024).
Returning Programs
Performance Co/Lab
September 29 and October 20
Performance Co/Lab is an open invitation to individuals looking to explore movement practices. Through a sustained program, participants will explore performance exercises such as contact improvisation, breath work, acting warm-ups, games, and techniques. Each session will introduce new and unique exercises throughout the duration of the Performance Co/Lab program. Performance Co/Lab is a gathering facilitated by the community for the community.
Writing Circle
Pencil In: A Writers’ Group
October 3 and 17, November 28, and December 12
Pencil In is a writers’ group created to provide a supportive environment for writers to write alone, together! We at 421 love the idea of body-doubling (working near or around someone to help stay focused and engaged) when we are working, writing, and creating. In these communal writing sessions, we invite writers to polish their skills while receiving valuable feedback from experienced peer reviewers in English and/or Arabic, having active conversations with other like-minded writers, and enjoying a safe space to share personal texts and works. These sessions are designed for writers to practice their craft without the pressures of producing a final outcome.
Instructors include Sarah Almeheiri, Mohammed Masharqa, Ritvik Rashid, and Ala Younis.
Children’s Workshop
Khayal with Early Starters
October 5 and December 21
Join us for an all-new Khayal Series with Early Starters this fall! Stay tuned for more information on the books for our reading circle and the hands-on activities. This session is suitable for families with children ages 6 and over. Parents and guardians are welcome to join the session and support their little ones.
Jamming Sessions: Home-cooking Series
October 6 and November 3
This season, explore the flavors of Sri Lanka through two unique Jamming Sessions. In the first session, happening in October 6, 2024, homecooks Lubna and Isham will introduce participants to the island’s rich tea-time culture. Learn how to prepare beloved "short-eats" like ‘maalu paan’ (fish buns) and ‘pani pol pancakes’ (sweet coconut pancakes), paired with traditional milk tea, offering a taste of Sri Lankan afternoon rituals.
In the second session on November 3, 2024, mother-daughter duo Fawkiya and Sumayya will guide participants through the creation of a classic Sri Lankan brunch. This vegetarian-friendly workshop features ‘kiribath’ (coconut milk rice), ‘biththara hodi’ (eggs in coconut curry), and the flavorful chili sambal, ‘lunu miris,’ accompanied by ginger tea.
The Artist Toolkit: Strategies for Applying to Open Calls
November 8, 9, and 10
This in-person three-day course led by Jolaine Frizzell (Ivy Advisory Founder and Artistic Development Program mentor) introduces strategies on how to find and apply for the right opportunities for your career, and best practices when it comes to application writing. The course includes contributions by industry professionals who will share insights into how application committees make decisions when deliberating on a grant or open-call panel.
The sessions will also touch on common application requirements, misconceptions, and effective approaches to successful applications.
Special Events
Contemporary Floral Arrangement Workshop with Yousif Abdulsaid
October 24
Join our artist-in-residence Yousif Abdulsaid for a special workshop where you'll learn to create a contemporary-style floral arrangement perfect for dining tables, coffee tables, or as a striking centerpiece. Known for his experimental floral installations, Yousif will get you creating a variety of arrangements using flowers, branches, and foliage.
Sri Lankan Films: Forest Cinema
December 12
Enjoy a special selection of Sri Lankan films that explore the myths, legends, and spirits of disappearing forests, curated by the Dharamshala International Film Festival. Dharamshala International Film Festival’s peripatetic and constantly changing programme—DIFF On the Road—brings curated selections of films to venues and locations across India and beyond. DIFF On the Road was envisioned as part of the festival’s mandate to build networks of cinematic solidarity in South Asia and to extend the space for discourse around independent cinema.
New Initiatives and Programs
Performance Co//ective
A new movement program co-facilitated by Mary Chase and Carlos Páez González, the same instructors from our current Performance Co/Lab workshops. The Performance Co//ective also marks one year since we initiated our community-driven Performance Co/Lab series. This program is designed for performance practitioners of any and all levels, offering a space to engage in a consistent practice with the goal of producing a performance by the end of the season.
Throughout the program, selected participants will engage in monthly closed sessions, exploring various performance elements including writing, movement, vocal work, acting, dance, and more. The program culminates in a live showcase, providing you the chance to present your work to an audience. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dedicated community, creating a collaborative production from start to finish.
Creative Facilitator Program
This season, our public programming will feature 421 Creative Facilitators, a program developed in collaboration with the FIA Institute for Inclusion and Accessibility. This initiative offers People of Determination who are interested in careers in education or the arts valuable hands-on experience. Participants will have the opportunity to support instructors, artists, and the 421 team across various workshops and events.
Studio Play
Studio Play is a vibrant and imaginative space designed for children ages 3 to 8, where creativity knows no bounds. Filled with creative games and tactile experiences, this colorful room invites young artists to explore and discover through creative activities inspired by the nearby exhibitions. Safety is a top priority, with soft flooring and materials that allow children to freely engage in play.
This season's dynamic offerings reflect 421's commitment to fostering creativity, inclusivity, and cultural engagement within the local and regional arts communities. We invite everyone to participate, explore, and be inspired by the programs on offer.