Coffee lovers get a chance to unwind and indulge in artistry as some cafés take the concept of relaxation over a cuppa to new levels.
When Rana Eid Denis was planning to set up her own café, she felt that Dubai didn't have too many places for artistic expression. She felt the need to unify different cultures and communities through art as it created bridges and promoted healthy living.
The idea inspired her to start Café Ceramique, a place that looked beyond the mochas and lattes to give coffee lovers the freedom to create beautiful, individual works of art. In Dubai it became one of the first cafés to offer ceramic painting, engaging the family as a whole and in turn educating children with the help of art.
Around the same time, in 2002, the Basta Art Café took shape in the historical wind tower house in the Bastakiya region in Dubai. With its open courtyard and peaceful environs, it became an attraction for tourists and residents. They could spend private and quiet afternoons at the café enjoying the fresh brew and juices, and at the same time participate in book reading sessions or marvel at the paintings exhibited by various local and international artistes.
Like Café Ceramique, the Basta Art Café ensured that the coffee lover got more than his cuppa when he walked into the place and has since then supported local and international artistes, craftsmen and writers in various ways.
Cafés such as Ceramique and Basta Art have definitely brought something new to the dining and cultural landscape of Dubai.
They are reminiscent of cafés in London, Paris, Rome and even New York, which often have jazz and live music nights, an artisan's gallery, an open mike night for singers and comedians, poetry readings and dancing.
Like Manhattan's Café Vivaldi, frequented by artistes such as Bette Midler and Warren Beatty for its roaring fireside and classical music nights, Café Ceramique, Basta Art Café, Jam Jar, Elements, Piccolomondo and the Art Bay Café have activities planned for coffee lovers all through the year. These range from painting to story telling to team-building exercises, and some of them even double up as places to download music, check out the latest mobile phone software and even surf the net.
"When we first introduced the concept of an art and craft eatery, it was something very new to the locals. But soon the concept caught on and people realised that here was a place where they could spend time together as a family in a relaxed manner," says Denis, the founder of Café Ceramique. The concept of the café is simple: children are encouraged to choose different ceramic objects and then paint them. Once they finish painting the object can be glazed and then taken home.
"I believe that if children start their education in the arts at an early age, they will appreciate it more later and become better people for it," says Denis.
Café Ceramique runs several activities such as Schools Go Potty (where schools bring their students to the café as part of a field art trip), Colour Your Team (where companies bring in their employees for team-building exercises) and Art for Fun Workshops.
"It's interesting to see how adults react to colour. We've had several companies such as Harvey Nichols, Microsoft, Citibank participate in the Colour Your Team exercise and it has helped their employees to know each other better and to break the ice in difficult situations," says Denis.
The café also runs the Art of Giving programme where children with special needs are encouraged to paint on large ceramic pieces that are later auctioned.
"The proceeds go to the charity of choice for that year. The event gives these children a chance to interact and celebrate their talent. It also helps us to integrate them with mainstream society."
Redefining the art scene
Defining its role in the art scene, the Basta Art Café works together with the Dubai Cultural Council to promote various local and international artistes.
"People love coming here because the café has a relaxed setting. You can sit here for hours sipping your coffee and watching some of the artistes paint in the courtyard just next to you. This year during the Dubai Shopping Festival we will exhibit the paintings of Evielina Sundanst from Sweden, Mazarine Memon from India and Karin Lowag from Germany. For children we have special book reading sessions by British author Julia Johnson," says Farrah, manager, Basta Art Café.
The Jam Jar in the Al Quoz area of Dubai is another such space for art connoisseurs where people can enjoy their cuppa in an art gallery and painting studio.
"Although the concept is aimed at adults, it appeals to children as well. Anyone interested to paint can pay Dh195 for four hours and get an unlimited supply of paint and coffee. They can divide their time in three prime slots.
"Families come here to spend time, so while some paint, the others enjoy the art exhibitions that are going on in the gallery or simply relax with a cup of coffee.
"Our studio has grown in size and people in Dubai simply love the concept because it gives them a chance to take things at their own space," says Rachel Brown, Gallery and Special Projects Coordinator at the Jam Jar.
Making art accessible
According to Hetal Pawani, founder of Jam Jar, "The idea of a gallery with a coffee shop came to mind because we wanted to make art accessible to every one. The place was named Jam Jar because we wanted to give people the feel of jamming with art, or to create art spontaneously.
"We wanted to make art interactive and non-inhibiting. Sitting over a cup of coffee is somehow very relaxing, so we introduced coffee in the gallery and it worked."
Jam Jar organises various exhibitions to support medical causes such as breast cancer, arthritis, cervical cancer and diabetes. Jam Jar's educational projects also encourage curriculum teaching through art and provide access to workshops by international artistes and visits to major art fairs in the region.
The pleasant mix of leisure and art has been the USP of the new line of cafés that are making their presence felt in Dubai. Art Bay Café (Emaar Tower), Elements (Wafi City), Piccolo Mondo (International City), Stivanos (Al Barsha) and the Dubai Marina Art Cafés have all combined different schools of visual art, music, and antique collections with the pleasures of drinking coffee.
"Fine dining is like an art, you have to be passionate about it. We have taken cafés to the fine dining level and added the pleasures of art to the overall experience," says Zaki Al Obaidi, founder of the Art Bay Café.
Art is not the only way to infuse interest into the café experience. The i2 Café in the BurJuman Shopping Centre is a unique experience that invites coffee lovers to place their orders via mobile phones and enjoy free Internet connection as well as up-to-the-minute news and information on mobile devices and accessories provided in the café.
First launched in Saudi Arabia, the i2 café is distinguished by its futuristic green and blue décor, and optimal use of wireless technology. The café also has a 1,500 square feet flagship store adjacent to it, which displays a wide range of IT products along with mobile devices and accessories. According to Abdul Hameed Al Sunaid, CEO of i2 (one of the largest mobile phone providers in Saudi Arabia), "The concept behind the i2 café is to offer a '360 degrees i2 experience', which would engage customers to experiment with i2 products and services while sitting in a relaxed environment."
At the café, customers can use the latest mobile phones on their tables to access the menu, order food and drinks, download mobile content and even pay for their bill through the mobile menus.
The system is operated through Bluetooth technology that's fully integrated, from the food ordering software right down to the i2 Club downloading software.
