Public talk

Can a city of expatriates have a cultural core?
Dubai is a city built on movement.
People arrive, pass through, reinvent themselves — and often leave.
But can a place like this develop a shared cultural core?
And what role does contemporary art play in shaping identity, depth, and meaning in a fast-paced global city?
This collaborative public talk by Culture Mapping and DOM Art Projects brings together cultural practitioners and founders to reflect on how meaning is created — and shared — in a city of many backgrounds.
This public talk will be a live recorded conversation and will become one of the upcoming episodes of the Culture Mapping podcast.
We will talk about
→ Can a city of expatriates have a cultural core?
→ Art, identity, and people passing through
→ How does contemporary art help people find meaning in a fast-paced city like Dubai?
→ How do we build shared meaning in a city of many backgrounds?
Why come
- A new format: not a panel, not a lecture — a live dialogue
- Honest reflections from people actively building culture in Dubai
- A community that values depth, curiosity, and thoughtful exchange
Who this talk is for
- Founders, creatives, and thinkers living in Dubai
- Artists, curators, and cultural practitioners
- Collectors and people curious about contemporary art
- Anyone interested in how culture forms in global, transient cities
Free admission with registration
This is a limited-capacity event to keep the conversation intimate and meaningful. Seats are limited and registration is required.
DATE
January 7, 2026, 6:00 PM
Speakers
Alisa Bagdonaite — Chief Curator and Co-founder of Dom Art Projects
Anna Pumpyanskaya — Director and Co-founder of Dom Art Projects
Anastasia Davydova, entreprenuer, Co-Host @Culture Mapping, Co-Founder @movingo
Konstanton Koloskov, entreprenuer, Co-Host @Culture Mapping, Co-Founder @Storm