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The Majlis Gallery, a haven for artists and art lovers, grew out of a love affair between an expatriate lady and a very special house. Alison Collins came to Dubai in 1976 to work as an interior designer. She fell in love with the country, especially with the architecture and the ambiance of the old windtower houses in the Bastakia. In 1978, with the help of two Iranian tea importers and an Egyptian curtain maker, Alison and her husband secured the lease on villa number 19, Bastakia, Bur Dubai. Here, over the next ten years, they raised their three young children and played host to many informal soirees in their ‘majlis, hence the name, introducing artists both professional and amateur to a somewhat culturally bereft community. 1988 could have been a disaster for the Bastakia, but instead of the planned demolition of the area, a reprieve was granted and on 2 November 1989, The Majlis Gallery re-opened its doors. Its mission? To promote the work of artists of international standing and to become a meeting place for creative minds. To realise the importance of todays Bastakia from a cultural perspective, it is necessary to understand the social and historical context in which it developed. In the early 1900s, the area was ideally situated for a merchant community near the Creek where the dhows unloaded, and the souk where commerce was conducted. It was therefore natural that traders and their families made their homes in this district. The story goes that many years ago, when seen from the Creek, the Bastakias numerous windtowers were like a host of upraised hands welcoming visitors to port or bidding them safe passage as they sailed out to sea. The Bastakia, both past and present, provides a sense of community, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a time when Dubai was nothing more than a sleepy trading port, and now, with the opening of the newly renovated houses, presents the Emirate with a vibrant artistic centre.

 

Address: Bastakia Roundabout, Bur Dubai, PO Box 42885, Dubai, UAE
Telephone: 9714 3536233
Fax: 9714 3535550
Website: http://www.majlisgallery.com/