A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme: Empowering the Next Generation of Creative Minds

The A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme is a unique initiative that brings together artists and designers to collaborate with schools across the UAE, providing young minds with opportunities to grow and develop their interest and understanding of the arts.

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Collaborative Artist Pairing

This year, the programme introduces the first collaborative artist pairing for the UAE, featuring celebrated Nigerian artist Peju Alatise and Emirati artist-educator Alia Hussain Lootah. Together, they will explore the “Future of Water” with hands-on artist-led workshops running through June 2025.

The programme will feature artist-led sessions for children aged 5 to 17, allowing them to paint or create mixed-media collage on clear plexiglass sheets. As water is stored within these sheets, it interacts with their work, reshaping and distorting the visuals.
The sessions will also include a masterclass for educators, led by the artists and industry professionals, to embed more creative and flexible teaching strategies into the UAE’s classrooms.
The programme will feature a panel discussion during Art Dubai 2025, bringing together educators to reflect on the value of arts education and its impact on future generations.

Bridging Art and Education

The initiative is developed through a partnership between Art Dubai and Dubai-based private investment firm A.R.M. Holding, which reinforces the UAE’s position as the global capital of culture and innovation.

“Our patronage of the arts goes beyond collecting, and this programme reflects our broader mission to help build vibrant, connected communities. It reinforces our commitment and ongoing support to culture and education, and to empowering the next generation of leaders, cultural ambassadors, changemakers, and creative thinkers who will shape the UAE’s future.”

– H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of A.R.M. Holding

Artist Perspectives

The programme offers a unique creative lens through which we can reimagine how we care for our shared world,” said Alatise, who is a leading voice in African contemporary art. “Water is central to life, and through this project. We’re inviting children to treat it as a creative medium that reflects their thoughts, hopes, and questions about the future. As artists, we can guide the process, but it is the children who will show us new ways of thinking. It will reflect on their relationship with water—how it shapes their homes, environment, and culture.”
– Peju Alatise, Nigerian contemporary artist
Lootah, whose work explores meditative expression through patterns and the interpersonal relationships between mother and child, said: “As both an artist and educator, I believe in art’s power to foster connections between people and with the environment. In the UAE, water holds deep cultural significance, with traditional transportation once centred around the Al Khor (the creek). Through this programme, art becomes a gateway for children to explore and share values, helping them reflect on water as a precious resource. We bring these ideas into classrooms in an engaging, thought-provoking way through workshops that encourage reflection and inspire a deeper appreciation for the environment.”
– Alia Hussain Lootah, Emirati artist and educator

About the A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme

The programme is part of A.R.M. Holding’s broader mission to foster young talent and creativity in the emirates. It brings together artists and designers to collaborate with schools across the UAE, providing young minds with opportunities to grow and develop their interest and understanding of the arts.

Key Partnerships:	Art Dubai, A.R.M. Holding
Programme Launch Date:	April 21, 2025
Programme Duration:	June 2025

About Art Dubai

Art Dubai is the most significant global art gathering in the Middle East, founded in 2007. It provides an important gateway for discovery, learning and exchange, championing galleries and artists from less-represented geographies.

“We are proud to work with two artists – one local, one international – for the first time. This initiative gives young minds the chance to experience art in new ways – through discovery, expression, and meaningful connection – which lies at the core of this long-term partnership.”

– Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai

About A.R.M. Holding

A.R.M. Holding is a private investment firm and a multi-focused economic enabler investing in partnerships that reinforce Dubai’s position as the global capital of culture and innovation.