AS home to thousands of shops and likely as many brands you’d think there was little room in Dubai for a market selling homemade products.
But you would be wrong...10 years worth of wrong, in fact.
But you would be wrong...10 years worth of wrong, in fact.
SMILES ALL ROUND: ArtE celebrates its 10th anniversary this Friday /// Photo: GreenMoments Photography
For a full decade ArtE has been giving a cherished twice monthly platform to often-unique designers and handcrafted products you are unlikely to find in any mainstream mall.
Not surprisingly, then, much fuss will be made this Friday when ArtE regulars and founder Miriam Walsh celebrate a landmark anniversary for what has become the haven for homemade and handmade by the country's creative people.
As well as a full house of stalls and vendors, Times Square Centre will host demonstrations and workshops as it seeks to breathe a waft of fresh air into its tried and tested formula.
Miriam has rarely been busier than she has been in the run-up to the anniversary, not least as it follows the summer break.
But the Dutch native is excited for the future of a market fixture that she says showcases the often hidden talents of UAE residents.
“It’s not just about dollars, it’s about having time out. It’s a source of inspiration,” says Miriam, a felt maker who works with sheep wool and who remains an ArtE vendor herself.
“There are always new people coming. People like the continuity - same place, same guidelines. And even though we have been running for 10 years we still have artisans, about 10, from 2005 coming nearly every month.”
As well as a full house of stalls and vendors, Times Square Centre will host demonstrations and workshops as it seeks to breathe a waft of fresh air into its tried and tested formula.
Miriam has rarely been busier than she has been in the run-up to the anniversary, not least as it follows the summer break.
But the Dutch native is excited for the future of a market fixture that she says showcases the often hidden talents of UAE residents.
“It’s not just about dollars, it’s about having time out. It’s a source of inspiration,” says Miriam, a felt maker who works with sheep wool and who remains an ArtE vendor herself.
“There are always new people coming. People like the continuity - same place, same guidelines. And even though we have been running for 10 years we still have artisans, about 10, from 2005 coming nearly every month.”
Dubai’s best known and most enduring artisans market began partly out of necessity and had a couple of different homes before settling at TSC, handily placed just off Sheikh Zayed Road and beside the Dubai Metro line.
“At our first market we had 29 people, in September 2005,” recalls Miriam, who worked on the idea with fellow founder Paul Townsend, a silver jewellery and cufflink crafter who sadly moved back to the UK earlier this year.
“By December, at the Crowne Plaza on SZR, we had 79 vendors. Time Square Centre wasn’t even built then.”
While there were other events on in Dubai, ArtE was drawing creative types under one roof, giving them a chance to showcase their talents alongside like minded others.
“We had frequented the local markets before we started ArtE. They were so many disappointments or frustrations that one day we said ‘do you think we could do this?'
“Paul set up an MSN group and we networked a little bit and got our first meeting together, a brainstorming session with some vendors. ArtE came from that first meeting in June of 2005.”
“At our first market we had 29 people, in September 2005,” recalls Miriam, who worked on the idea with fellow founder Paul Townsend, a silver jewellery and cufflink crafter who sadly moved back to the UK earlier this year.
“By December, at the Crowne Plaza on SZR, we had 79 vendors. Time Square Centre wasn’t even built then.”
While there were other events on in Dubai, ArtE was drawing creative types under one roof, giving them a chance to showcase their talents alongside like minded others.
“We had frequented the local markets before we started ArtE. They were so many disappointments or frustrations that one day we said ‘do you think we could do this?'
“Paul set up an MSN group and we networked a little bit and got our first meeting together, a brainstorming session with some vendors. ArtE came from that first meeting in June of 2005.”
CREATIVE COLOUR: ArtE founders saw a need to help fellow vendors /// Photo: GreenMoments Photography
Two things emerged early on: that their market would be organised from a vendor perspective and that they would shield the handmade products of participants from cheap imports.
“We felt with knowing what we need as artisans we could arrange a better thing,” says Miriam, who called upon her background in administration and management. “Paul didn’t want to be at a market with his handmade stuff, that he’d sweated over making in the evenings when his kids were in bed, and then find another vendor next to him who has imported from Indonesia and can sell work at a third of the price.
“He wanted to avoid this competition and so the ‘handmade in the UAE by local residential artisans’ rule and condition came.
“It was ‘I can do better for the artisans’. It was also ‘it has to be UAE made, so that we exclude the cheap imports and unfair competition and know what we are doing'.”
“We felt with knowing what we need as artisans we could arrange a better thing,” says Miriam, who called upon her background in administration and management. “Paul didn’t want to be at a market with his handmade stuff, that he’d sweated over making in the evenings when his kids were in bed, and then find another vendor next to him who has imported from Indonesia and can sell work at a third of the price.
“He wanted to avoid this competition and so the ‘handmade in the UAE by local residential artisans’ rule and condition came.
“It was ‘I can do better for the artisans’. It was also ‘it has to be UAE made, so that we exclude the cheap imports and unfair competition and know what we are doing'.”
HOMEMADE vs IMPORTS: ArtE protects vendors such as crystal expert Sparklefairy from cheap mass produced goods
Such is the commitment of ArtE’s founders to that principle, they have been known to ask the occasional stallholder to pack up and leave their table if mass production or cheap imports is suspected.
Thankfully, most vendors get the message and find a demand for their own goods. Some have made ArtE the foundation of a business and a few have leapt on to wider commercial success, such as Judith Hobby who now has a thriving boutique for her clothing designs.
Then there are the vendors who have unlikely day jobs but simply seek an audience for the product of their hobby and can earn some “pocket money” while doing it.
Prime examples down the years include the American helicopter pilot who designed industrial jewellery in his spare time and the Dubai Tram engineer who made kids cooking aprons. Then there is the factory boss who creates guitars out of old cigar boxes.
While the past 10 years has seen dozens of malls and thousands of new shops appear across the UAE – as well as other pop-up markets – Miriam still sees a big role for ArtE in shop-tastic Dubai.
Thankfully, most vendors get the message and find a demand for their own goods. Some have made ArtE the foundation of a business and a few have leapt on to wider commercial success, such as Judith Hobby who now has a thriving boutique for her clothing designs.
Then there are the vendors who have unlikely day jobs but simply seek an audience for the product of their hobby and can earn some “pocket money” while doing it.
Prime examples down the years include the American helicopter pilot who designed industrial jewellery in his spare time and the Dubai Tram engineer who made kids cooking aprons. Then there is the factory boss who creates guitars out of old cigar boxes.
While the past 10 years has seen dozens of malls and thousands of new shops appear across the UAE – as well as other pop-up markets – Miriam still sees a big role for ArtE in shop-tastic Dubai.
HEART OF ARTE: 10 years on and founder Miriam Walsh is still campaigning for handmade and homemade
“The big cities such as London, Paris, all have Zara and Mango and Starbucks, but those cities also have the artisans who have a little store, people setting up a store to sell stuff they have made.
“That is hugely lacking in Dubai because of the high cost of a premises, and licensing, so the market is a wonderful platform.
“We see people coming to the market because they want to be with like-minded people for a day. We see people who don’t want to be a mum or a housewife or corporate.
“We now also see young students coming into ArtE who are at design or fashion schools who are totally creative in their study and then come to ArtE to turn their product into a sellable item. The students are there to test to see if their product works.”
“That is hugely lacking in Dubai because of the high cost of a premises, and licensing, so the market is a wonderful platform.
“We see people coming to the market because they want to be with like-minded people for a day. We see people who don’t want to be a mum or a housewife or corporate.
“We now also see young students coming into ArtE who are at design or fashion schools who are totally creative in their study and then come to ArtE to turn their product into a sellable item. The students are there to test to see if their product works.”
SMELL OF SUCCESS: ArtE is the land of soap and glory /// Photo: GreenMoments Photography
Discovery of ArtE market by tourists tends to come as something of a surprise. Many don’t expect to find handmade goods, or artisans, co-existing in a shopping culture that thrives on a reputation of luxury brands.
But when they do, they’re confronted with sometimes-unique souvenirs and a glimpse of a retail world off the commercial beaten track that has given Dubai its niche as a shopping destination in the Middle East.
For those on the other side of the table, ArtE can be a motivation to re-connect with a past skill or creative passion, a chance to mingle and network, a potential money-spinner or simply an opportunity to meet a dozen different nationalities in a bustling environment.
It’s a bit like a club - with retail benefits.
But when they do, they’re confronted with sometimes-unique souvenirs and a glimpse of a retail world off the commercial beaten track that has given Dubai its niche as a shopping destination in the Middle East.
For those on the other side of the table, ArtE can be a motivation to re-connect with a past skill or creative passion, a chance to mingle and network, a potential money-spinner or simply an opportunity to meet a dozen different nationalities in a bustling environment.
It’s a bit like a club - with retail benefits.
HANDS ON: ArtE is introducing more interactive features to its market /// Photo: GreenMoments Photography
“Which is why we are so successful," Miriam adds with a smile.
“I’m an emotionally tactile kind of person and speak to people and feel for people. I have grown with ArtE organically so I can sense what people need.
“People are at home making beautiful stuff...they come out and seek a return on their investment.
“And I am wanting people to do well because without them doing well, ArtE is not doing well.”
DETAILS:
ARTE operates from noon-7pm this Friday and on September 25, October 9 & 23, November 13 & 27 and December 11. Admission is free.
FOR more information about vendors and future market dates, including additional pop-ups and RAK market days, visit www.arte.ae
FOLLOW ArtE on Twitter @arteuae and at www.facebook.com/ARTE
AND look out for MustDoDubai.com friend Fluke Imagery selling canvas photographs from the UAE and beyond at ArtE. For more visit: www.facebook.com/flukeimagery
“I’m an emotionally tactile kind of person and speak to people and feel for people. I have grown with ArtE organically so I can sense what people need.
“People are at home making beautiful stuff...they come out and seek a return on their investment.
“And I am wanting people to do well because without them doing well, ArtE is not doing well.”
DETAILS:
ARTE operates from noon-7pm this Friday and on September 25, October 9 & 23, November 13 & 27 and December 11. Admission is free.
FOR more information about vendors and future market dates, including additional pop-ups and RAK market days, visit www.arte.ae
FOLLOW ArtE on Twitter @arteuae and at www.facebook.com/ARTE
AND look out for MustDoDubai.com friend Fluke Imagery selling canvas photographs from the UAE and beyond at ArtE. For more visit: www.facebook.com/flukeimagery
