The Sima Collective

Every art contributes to the greatest art of all, the art of living

(Bertolt Brecht) 

Placemaking is a multi-layered, hands-on, and compelling approach to a public space.

It inspires people to collectively reimagine the latter and reposition it as the lifeblood of their daily lives. In doing so, placemaking reinforces the intimate connection between people and the spaces they share – ushering in creative ways of utilizing these spaces and cultivating a deeper understanding of their budding physical, cultural, and social identities.

 Guided by the principles of placemaking, the Sima Collective constitutes a viable and sustainable   ecosystem for artists to share and the wider public to revel in.

As a concept, the ‘collective’ is far from new to the art world. So, introducing the Sima Collective does not necessarily seek to reinvent the wheel; rather, it aims to render this concept less fringe and less volatile by enabling artists to strike a balance between ‘flying solo’ and ‘flying together’.

 Centered around art residencies, the Sima Collective wishes to grow into an aesthetic power house, capable of attracting and supporting aspiring creatives, from the UAE and the region.

Nurturing their ambitions, hopes, and respective needs – both individual and collective – is indeed at the heart of the Sima Collective mission. Hence its intention to hone in on the talent of each artist in these trying times, offering them the unique opportunity to:

a.   Focus on their ingenuity

b.    Harness their artistic acumen

c.    Engage fully with a family of like-minded creatives

d.    Secure commercial success and, more importantly, gain clout in the industry

Public participation being an inherent component of placemaking, the Sima Collective encourages open visits to its studios – allowing audiences, from all walks of life, to journey through the creative processes therein, as they unfold and gradually cement the identity of the space.

In the same vein, the Sima Collective intends to host exhibitions, accommodate talks, and spearhead specialized discussions around arts and culture across its equipped premises.

‘Life is a stage’, we are told. With every act, our personal narratives unfold. With every act, new layers of ourselves are written, while older layers are eroded or concealed but never entirely shed. So is the Sima Collective: a home rather than a temporary site of exploration; a human hub, wherein the lifelong creative journey of ‘becoming’ is shaped through introspection, cooperation, experimentation, soul-searching, dialogue, motivation and the determination to unravel life through art – one layer at a time…one collaboration at a time.