ABOUT US

OPEN SPACE

Open Space is the UAE’s independent English and Arabic media platform covering contemporary art, architecture, and culture. Since 2020, we have published over 2,000 articles: daily exhibition reviews, artist interviews, and analysis of the Gulf’s art scene — reaching 150,000+ readers every month.

 

We are proud to support the UAE’s cultural vision and contribute to the national programmes shaping the future of arts and creativity in the region:

  • Culture Agenda 2031 — the UAE’s first national cultural strategy, uniting all seven emirates around a shared roadmap for heritage, creativity, and cultural dialogue
  • National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries — aiming to grow the creative sector to 5% of national GDP by 2031
  • Dubai Public Art Strategy — transforming the city into an open-air gallery, led by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
  • Emirati National Identity Strategy — preserving and celebrating the values, language, and heritage that define the UAE
  • We the UAE 2031 — the national plan placing culture and community at the heart of the country’s next decade
  • UAE Soft Power Strategy — positioning the UAE as a global leader in cultural diplomacy, currently ranked 10th worldwide
Open Space sees it as both a privilege and a responsibility to document the cultural life of this nation — its exhibitions, its artists, its architecture, and its ambitions. We cover all seven emirates, from Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sharjah Biennial to the creative districts of Al Quoz and Alserkal Avenue. Whether you are a curator, a collector, or simply looking for something to see this weekend — we are here to connect you with the art and culture of the UAE, every day.

 

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.
She 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 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 in Europe. We publish scientific and analytical articles about the architecture and culture of the UAE in peer-reviewed scientific journals on art; 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.

 

↑