Rays, Ripples, Residue

1 November 2025 - 26 April 2026

The exhibition marks the ten-year anniversary of 421 Arts Campus, offering a space for reflecting on emergent artistic practices in the UAE, their possibilities and challenges for the future. Featuring video, performance, installation, and multimedia works, the exhibition invites conversations around what it means to produce art in the UAE today from the vantage point of emerging artists, collectives, and grassroots initiatives, to the influential role of cultural institutions that have supported and platformed these practices.

Localized Futures: Conversations by 421 x afikra

Localized Futures: Conversations by 421 x afikra is a collaborative series of talks presented by 421 and afikra, dedicated to exploring the future of key cultural and civic sectors through a uniquely regional lens. This four-part program, running from January through April, is anchored by the theme, "The Localized Futures," which challenges global narratives by focusing on the distinct solutions, innovations, and challenges inherent to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Winter 2026 Program

Based on our ten-year anniversary exhibition, Rays, Ripples, Residue, this decadal season extends the spirit of the exhibition into programming that considers, obscures, and cyclically revisits, and at times, re-imagines, the past, present, and future of 421 as witness to the transformations, translations, and adaptations within and surrounding its walls. The seasonal general public programming invites four modalities of translating our past, present, and future.

You Got the Memo?!

31 January 2026 - 1 February 2026
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

A two day paper extravaganza!

On the first day, participants will explore paper-making and will get to experiment with natural pigments, dyeing their paper using natural dyes.

On the second day, The Memo Club and Ayesha Fernandes will lay the foundation and provide the framework for a meditation for Analog’s Return: Our Human Need For It –– a prompt on our collective pasts and futures while participants can use the exhibition and previous exhibition ephemera and archival material to respond to as they create collages or assemblages on their hand-made papers. They will also be invited to learn a saddle-stitch by Ayesha Fernandes should they wish to bind their creations into artist books. 

60 AED

SOLD OUT

To be added to the waitlist, please email hello@421.online

Stick with It! With Gluestick Gazette

1 February 2026
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Swap your favorite stickers and craft your heart out with fellow creatives at this cozy creative meetup!

Participants are encouraged to bring their journals and to save any memorabilia from their past week in this junk journaling X vision board galore where they will take a moment to pause, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the new year ahead by way of sticking and collaging in the art of junk journaling galore! 

Register Interest

(Lino) Printing MiZa With Diego Mendoza

8 February 2026
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Taking inspiration from an image buffet of MiZa and other materials, participants are invited to create images and create motifs and meaning-make to later print and make their own lino-prints following a demo by artist Diego Mendoza where he will explain and offer his own artistic practice and how he explores the image and draws out a motif or pattern into print.

60 AED

SOLD OUT

To be added to the waitlist, please email hello@421.online

The Localized Futures: Education

10 February 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The future requires a new definition of learning. This session gathers leading minds from academia, policy, and publishing to address the imperative of educational innovation. The conversation will focus on how regional educational institutions are moving beyond traditional models to build learning ecosystems that are locally relevant, globally competitive, and capable of fostering critical thinking and creative citizenship.

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Tatreez Circle With Joanna Barakat

12 February 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join us for ‘Tatreez Circle’ with Joanna Barakat, a series where you’ll get together as makers to embroider meaningful motifs.

This is a relaxed, communal space for stitchers and tatreez practitioners to work side by side. All experience levels are welcome, whether you’ve just learned tatreez or have been practicing for years, but basic knowledge of tatreez is required.

Participants are asked to bring their own embroidery projects and supplies.

Register Interest

Pencil In With Sarah Afaneh

12 February 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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.

Open to ages 18 and above.

No prior experience is required, just a love for the written word!

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A 421 Family Day!

14 February 2026
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Get ready for Family Day at 421! A creative day full of gallery adventures, stories, and hands-on activities, specially designed for little ones and their families.

This special Family Day is open to all ages and skill levels, it’s a day made for kids but with plenty for grown-ups to enjoy too so parents are welcome to join!

Register Interest

For Poetry: A Writers’ Suhoor

26 February 2026
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Gather for a Writers’ Suhoor, an intimate evening of poetry, collaboration, and reflection. Arrive to be greeted by a typewriter inviting you to contribute a line to a collective poem, a spontaneous act of shared authorship.

Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and above. A light Suhoor will be provided.

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Image-Makers’ Suhoor

5 March 2026
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM

The Image-Makers’ Suhoor is an evening designed for image-makers, artists, and anyone curious about creative processes. The night begins with artist talks, where the invited artists will present works in progress and showcase their image-making practices across analog, film-making, and stop-motion, followed by a Q&A.

The evening concludes with a light Suhoor, providing time to reflect, share, and connect over creative practice.

No prior experience is required. Open to all skill levels, ages 18 and above. A light suhoor will be provided.

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Pencil In: Suhoor Hour With Sarah Afaneh

12 March 2026
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

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.

For this special Ramadan edition, write and share in the company of other writers while enjoying a light Suhoor, embracing the communal spirit of Ramadan.

Open to ages 18 and above.

No prior experience is required, just a love for the written word!

A light Suhoor will be provided! 

Add to Cart (Free)

• 1 Ticket
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Tatreez Circle: Suhoor Hour With Joanna Barakat

12 March 2026
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Join us for ‘Tatreez Circle’ with Joanna Barakat, a series where you’ll get together as makers to embroider meaningful motifs.

This is a relaxed, communal space for stitchers and tatreez practitioners to work side by side. All experience levels are welcome, whether you’ve just learned tatreez or have been practicing for years, but basic knowledge of tatreez is required.

Participants are asked to bring their own embroidery projects and supplies. 

A Light Suhoor will be provided.

Add to Cart (Free)

• 1 Ticket
• 2 Tickets
• 3 Tickets
• 4 Tickets
• 5 Tickets