Creative Forces Heading to UAE for First Semi Permanent Middle East Festival

This will get your creative juices flowing. The world’s coolest creative geniuses will swoop into the UAE later this year for Abu Dhabi’s first creativity festival. Semi Permanent Middle East is a three-day festival celebrating design, retail, branding, fashion and technology. The cast includes Grammy-winning DJ and producer Mark Ronson.

As the name suggests, globally renowned creative experience company Semi Permanent is behind the Abu Dhabi event. The Australian company stages funky design festivals from the UK to the US and China, as well as on home turf. They also craft consumer experiences for the world’s biggest brands like Google, Apple, Lexus and Mastercard.

Design Makeover

Semi Permanent Middle East takes over Manarat Al Saadiyat for three days in October. Leading LA-based design studio Perron-Roettinger will give the Emirate’s cultural hub a design makeover for the event. Visitors can dive into a jam-packed schedule of immersive, multi-sensory performances, talks and experiences.

Creative Cast

Here’s what we know about the creative cast so far… Los Angeles-based filmmaker, art curator and cultural icon Aaron Rose is bringing his pop-up art bar La Rosa Social Club. The cool concept makes its Middle East debut alongside contemporary artists Tom Sachs, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Barry McGee.

Turkish-born, Los Angeles-based new media artist Refik Anadol will stage an exclusive large format installation. Rotterdam objects designer objects Sabine Marcelis is designing a bespoke collection for the Abu Dhabi festival. Marcelis has collaborated with Celine and Burberry in the past. And The Flower Shop NYC pop-up restaurant will give visitors a taste of New York’s Lower East Side.

DJ and producer Mark Ronson is flying in for Semi Permanent Middle East. Ronson has collaborated with massive artists like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars. He will appear ‘in conversation’ before taking to the decks for an exclusive DJ set.

Limitless Imagination

Taking place 14 – 16 October, Semi Permanent Middle East 2021 will boost Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a creative hub. Semi Permanent Founder and Creative Director Murray Bell commented on the Emirate’s “rapid cultural growth into an international epicentre of art, design and technology”. He described Abu Dhabi’s creative scene as “a community with limitless imagination”.

“There has never been a better time to design a future we can be proud of, together,” added Bell.

Main photo: Art by Barry McGee

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