From April 1st to April 9th, Alserkal Avenue, an art hub located in Dubai, will host a festival called Stay a Little Longer, which aims to celebrate the city’s diversity. The festival will include a wide range of activities such as screenings, poetry performances, gift exchanges, and music performances by a handpan orchestra. The event will also offer food pop-ups and communal seating areas where visitors can relax and socialize.
Late-night programming will take place from 8 pm to 11.30 pm, offering free activities designed to encourage visitors to slow down and take a moment to learn and listen. The festival’s line-up of events will change throughout the nine days, with different activities taking place on different days.
One of the festival’s highlights will be the storytelling series curated by Shereen Saif, an Indian-born artist based in Dubai. Saif’s work spans different artistic practices, including dance, theatre, storytelling, performance, and installation art. Visitors can catch her curated series on April 1st and April 5th.
On April 4th and April 8th, the festival will offer poetry sessions, live music performances, Indian classical performances, and a performance by ZigZag Ghanem. Visitors who wish to learn more about Arabic coffee-making can visit on April 8th and April 9th, as the festival will host coffee-making demonstrations.
Additionally, visitors can participate in slow art walks on April 1st, April 4th, and April 5th. These walks offer an opportunity to appreciate art at a more leisurely pace and to engage with the artworks on a deeper level.
Throughout the entire festival, there will be a barter pop-up where visitors are invited to bring objects from home to exchange at the Faire Trade barter pop-up or browse books in the Bootleg Griot.
Overall, the Stay a Little Longer festival at Alserkal Avenue promises to be a vibrant celebration of Dubai’s diversity, offering a range of activities that cater to different interests and tastes. With its focus on slowing down and taking a moment to learn and listen, the festival offers a refreshing break from the fast-paced nature of modern life.
