Art For All Collective offers accessibility to art for everyone

Omar Najjar, Untitled. 2018, oil on canvas, 75 x 90 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Omar Najjar, Untitled. 2018, oil on canvas, 75 x 90 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

The Art for All or AFA Collective is a new concept aimed at young collectors, first time buyers or indeed, anyone with an eye for a bargain. Hosted by Fann A Porter, one of Dubai’s home-grown galleries, the exhibition's vision is rooted in the idea of bringing together valuable artists, and making these artists accessible to younger and established collectors. Aiming to empower people to buy art, support artists and develop a sustainable creative economy the gallery is offering an interest fee payment plan over an agreed number of installments to buy the artwork.

Making buying art easier is an example of how the AFA Collective embodies the ethos of community engagement. Nurturing international talent through their programming, the gallery stated that it “believes in and relies upon the public that activates [it]”. Serving as both as an exhibition and a concept, AFA Collective offers visceral and communicative artworks by emerging, mid-career and established artists who shine light upon a pocket of contemporary production. Shown in a refreshed commercial context characterised by accessibility, transparency and sustainability with flexible financial solutions, AFA proposes an antithetical model to combat collector fatigue and promote arts awareness and education. Exhibiting artists include Annie Kurkdjian, Alaa Sharabi, Houssam Ballan, Khalad Najad Paez, Jordi Prat Pons, Othman Moussa, Majd Kurdieh, Omar Najjar, Amirhosein Zanjani, Sasan Nasernia, Juhayda Bitar, Azad Nanakeli, Mukesh Shah and Yousuf Yousuf.

Annie Kurkdjian, Untitled, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 80 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Annie Kurkdjian, Untitled, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 80 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

“We hope that this new initiative will encourage similar programs across the city, taking away the elitist notion of art and collecting,” says Ghada Kunash, the gallery director. “It is so important for us to reach new audiences through all our exhibitions, so we welcome everyone to come and see how AFA Collective can help them get on the art ladder, so to speak.”


AFA Collective runs from September 25 - November 6, 2019 at Fann A Porter, gallery space at the Workshop. Jumeriah, Dubai. Opening reception on Wednesday, 25 September at 7pm.