The opening of the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s art scene is coming next month. Warehouse421, a converted storage unit near the capital’s old port, will host performances, exhibitions and workshops. It will be a welcome space for those who enjoy cultural pursuits – but beyond that, it could perform a far more important function.
The most difficult part of creativity is the human aspect. Studios can be rented, instruments purchased, lighting adjusted. But if the creativity of individuals isn’t unleashed, none of that matters. How exactly to unleash that creativity is a question that often plagues companies and organisations. It isn’t an easy question, because the creative process is not straightforward. But one method is to foster collaborations between individuals. And the surest way to do that is to get them to meet.
In management jargon, these are sometimes called “serendipitous encounters”. By providing places for people to meet, experience each other’s art and have their viewpoints collide, organisations can maximise the potential that artists will be inspired to work together.
It is in that context that Warehouse421 should be viewed. The building can act as a hub, drawing people into its gravitational pull and, much as in astronomy, allowing collisions and collaborations.
There are other spaces in the capital that allow such encounters – The Space in the TwoFour54 media zone comes to mind – but the more there are, the better. Grassroots art flourishes when there are myriad venues, each with their own ethos and community, each different. It is the colliding of these communities that will ensure that art in the capital truly takes off; that the public experiences different types of art and develops an appetite for more; that artists create different styles and use different mediums; and that communities and organisations see the value of incorporating art into their everyday work.