OPEN SPACE
a portal of contemporary art of the UAE, including daily art news, interviews with prominent artists, and articles on the architecture and art of the UAE.
Inspired by the UAE Government’s goals and programs on sustainable development in the field of culture as well as the Public Art Strategy, we see it as our goal to highlight and promote the cultural development of this region. Speaking of the UAE, we are talking about the incredible identity of this country, its respect for its culture and the remarkable openness of the UAE to all cultures of the world, allowing the UAE to become a world cultural centre. We see it as our goal to promote the culture, arts and sciences of the UAE both around the world and in the Gulf region.
ABOUT FOUNDER
Julia A. Smolenkova is an artist, art curator, gallery owner, PhD in art history and architecture, art magazine publisher.
Julia connected her life with art and works in the field of culture around the world.
Julia is the initiator of a large number of cultural programs in different cities and countries, as she sincerely believes that art is a universal language as well as a bridge for communication between countries and people.
“When I first came to the UAE in 2018, I was impressed by the country, culture, respect for its history and traditions, as well as by incredible openness to everything new, technology, innovation, and respect and interest in other cultures.
I wanted to tell everyone about the culture, about the past, the present and the future of this amazing country, about the grandiose plans and opportunities for culture and science. This is how the OPEN SPACE online platform appeared, where news about cultural events, exhibitions and festivals, new architectural projects, and interviews are published daily.
The project is expanding – we have launched an online art gallery and art library; we are creating cultural and educational programs for children and youth; we are participating in charitable projects. The project has turned into an art eco system for art lovers, collectors, artists.
I see the OPEN SPACE mission in supporting and developing cultural dialogue, popularising the culture of the UAE, developing and promoting creative projects in the region. In addition to the online platform, we exhibit works by Emirati artists at exhibitions, art fairs in Paris, Brussels, Moscow. We publish scientific and analytical articles about the architecture and culture of the UAE in peer-reviewed scientific journals on art in Belgium and Russia; we speak at international scientific conferences and cultural forums with reports on the culture of the region.
I am happy that owing to our work, more people get to know and come into contact with the culture of the UAE.”
The mission of Open Space is to create new opportunities for cultural communication between people and countries.