The opening of Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates in November 2006 was a landmark occasion for the city. It wasn’t the Emirate’s first shopping centre by a long way, but it was the first that really captured the vast investment and wild imagination that (before the economic downturn changed many perceptions) would quickly come to symbolise the local landscape. And, as with almost all of the malls that would subsequently open, shopping was the second item on the agenda. In the Mall of the Emirates, the main event for visitors was skiing, thanks to the mindboggling indoor snow centre, Ski Dubai.
But nestled on the top floor of the mall, under the shadow of the giant ski slope jutting skywards, another first was also opening, but on a far less ostentatious level. The Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, known to many simply as DUCTAC, was the first modern, non-profit, cross-community, creative centre in the Gulf. Launched by local theatre-lovers, art enthusiasts and artists, and funded with the support of various businesses and individuals, DUCTAC’s aim was to provide an entertainment and educational centre for the community and its future generations.
“It was recognised that this was something that was missing in the city,” explains general manager Millie Tsai, who has worked at DUCTAC since the start. “The main objective when it opened was to make the arts accessible to all, regardless of age, nationality or income, and that continues to be our objective today.”
While many might scoff at a ‘cultural’ centre sat just off the top floor car park of an oversized shopping centre, DUCTAC has managed to prove the critics wrong, boasting two theatres, dance studios, rehearsal rooms, art galleries and workshops, and attracting big name acts from across the globe. And alongside nightly shows from both international and local performers, DUCTAC’s workshops now cover languages, photography, pottery, comedy, drama and self-defence, to name just a few. “Our arts, dance, drama and music classes are fuller than they have ever been,” says Tsai, adding that the programme has increased with each annual season.
Last year DUCTAC hosted the UAE’s first multi-disciplinary arts festival, a four-month schedule of arts, music and dance, drama and film. “It was such a massive event to curate and execute,” explains Tsai. “But it was a huge success and reaffirmed my belief that there is a desire amongst the community for a more diverse range of artistic events.”
Looking to the future Tsai is just putting the finishing touches to the 2010/11 line-ups. “We’re going to be doing a lot more work with international cultural festivals and organisations to ensure that as well as supporting and showcasing local talent, we also give the community the opportunity to experience the work of the very best international artists.”
But of course, receiving no outside funding, DUCTAC is still dependant on the support from the local business community. “When you look at globally recognised cultural centres, such as the Lincoln Centre in New York or the Royal Opera House in London, these places are all supported by benefactors who recognise the need for these organisations and make a commitment to support them,” says Tsai. “In Dubai more people are recognising that the arts play a hugely important role in our society. Now we need their support to make sure that the work that we do can continue.”
www.ductac.org
