Artists, students, teachers, audiences, the government – we all have a role to play in developing the local arts scene, according to these Al Ain professors

From family festivals to pop-up exhibitions in historical sites, Al Ain is certainly heeding a call for easier access to cultural activities – and much of this revolves around visual art.

Having helped hone the talents of local arts students, Greek artist Yiannis Galanopoulos and Estonian artist Toomas Altnurme, both professors of fine arts and visual arts at Al Ain’s United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), have seen first-hand the changes in the industry and the opportunities that lay ahead.

“It’s building up an identity so fast that we cannot even identify the changes,” Yiannis notes. “I’m seeing better and better work all the time. When there is a context like that, everyone becomes better.”

Toomas adds, “This place is like Estonia 100 years ago, because 100 years ago we started educating artists and art teachers, and universities for art arose. It’s the same thing now here.”

“Fine art helps to build identity; it becomes part of the country’s identity. We don’t live in the past, we live in the present; life is always changing and we need to create new things.”

But changing mentalities isn’t just about opening up minds to different types of art. It’s about the idea of artists being able to have a full time career as a painter or photographer; it’s about members of the community actively seeking out art exhibitions; it’s about educating local artists so they can become teachers.

“People have now started learning what it’s like to go to an exhibition; it’s more about the overall educational experience. This will catch up with the overall education that we are building; we are targeting more viewers, not just artists.”

“I see great things for everybody, because everybody will benefit: the state is backing the arts, schools and government are backing the arts; all the people who are here, I hope they are like me and want to give because it’s meaningful for them to be part of that.”

WORDS Rachael Perrett