Besides the gallery halls, comprising Contemporary, Modern and Marker, the fair’s extensive not-for- profit programme includes artists’ and curators' residencies; site-specific works and commissioned performances (Art Dubai Projects); an exhibition of works by winners of the annual The Abraaj Group Art Prize; and the critically-acclaimed Global Art Forum.

Marker 2014 Galleries and Art Spaces
ArtEast, a non-governmental organization supporting the development of the contemporary art community in Kyrgyzstan, was founded in 2002 by artists Gulnara Kasmalieva and Muratbek Djumaliev. They run the ArtEast School of Contemporary Art, and have curated the highly acclaimed Bishkek International Exhibitions of Contemporary Art. Most of the projects have been supported by the Hivos Fund, Artscollaboratory, Open Society Foundation and Christensen Fund.

Asia Art+ was founded in 1996 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with projects in Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Asia Art+ Public Foundation supports contemporary art in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and promotes it internationally. Asia Art+’s participated in “Re-Orientation”, 2002, ACC gallery, Weimar, Germany; the Central Asian Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and the Istanbul Biennal, 2005 among others.

North Caucasus Branch of the National Center for Contemporary Art (NCCA) was opened in 2010 in Vladikavkaz, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and is the only state institution in the North Caucasus region directly working in the space of contemporary culture. NCCA’s North Caucasus branch is working with artists such as as Khsar Gassiev, Yuri Abisalov, Ruslan Tsrimov, Stas Kharin, Natali Sokolova, Aslan Gaisumov, Taus Makhacheva and Galina Konopatskaya.

Popiashvili Gvaberidze Window Project was founded by Irena Popiashvili and Tamuna Gvaberidze in Tbilisi, Georgia. The gallery provides an innovative public art space in Georgia, featuring works from both, Georgian and international artists, whose work is unknown to wider public. The window Project was launched this last summer and featured artists such as Andro Eradze, Giorgi Khaniashvili, Alfred Epitashvili, Uta Bekaia and Levan Chelidze.

YARAT Contemporary Art Space, founded in 2011 by Aida Mahmudova, is a non-commercial contemporary art space dedicated to the promotion and nurturing of contemporary art in Azerbaijan. Based in Baku, Yarat aims to create a platform, in the country and internationally, for established as well as emerging artists, implementing its aim through organising exhibitions, events and educational programmes. Exhibitions and shows include Future Shorts pop-up film festival series2013-2012; «Завод» (“Zavod”) a group show by emerging Azerbaijani artists, 2013; and ‘Home Sweet Home’, 2013, featuring the works of 14 artists including Faig Ahmad, Faig Akbarov, Ramal Kazimov, Aida Mahmudova, Rashad Alakbarov among others.

Art Week
Art Dubai is part of Art Week, an umbrella initiative that highlights the plethora of exhibitions, projects and events that now coincide with the fair each March, the most dynamic time in the UAE’s cultural calendar. Special events include Design Days Dubai, the only fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to product design and objects; SIKKA, the fair run by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and dedicated to new work by UAE-based artists; and Galleries Nights, featuring 40 new exhibitions across Al Quoz and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); plus other projects, museum shows and major events throughout the Emirates, Qatar and the Gulf. Art Week aims to promote the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors, and provides educational opportunities for young UAE-based graduates— building expertise for the future.