The Numoo initiative at The Arts Center at NYUAD will run from May to August this year
A standout success story from The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi is making its return.
The next chapter is officially underway, with 12 new artists announced as the latest cohort to join the initiative at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi.
The selected artists represent a diverse mix of styles, backgrounds, and creative approaches, reflecting the programme’s commitment to supporting the breadth of talent within the UAE.
The center’s homegrown performing arts development programme continues to build on a strong track record of supporting and elevating some of the UAE’s most promising artists.
First launched in 2021, Numoo emerged at a time when international touring had slowed to a halt, highlighting the importance of investing in artists already based in the UAE.
The programme was designed to support artists not just creatively, but practically; helping them build sustainable, long-term careers within the region.
Since then, Numoo has evolved through multiple editions, offering participants access to mentorship, performance opportunities, and a growing alumni network.
This year, its relevance feels particularly timely. With international live events impacted by the wider regional tensions, attention has once again shifted toward local talent; artists who are already here, creating and contributing to the UAE’s cultural identity.
In many ways, the current moment echoes the Covid-era pause, where disruption created space to recognise and elevate homegrown voices.
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Speaking about the initiative, Executive Artistic Director of The Arts Center at NYUAD Bill Bragin emphasised that the focus goes beyond identifying talented artists.
“We already know these artists are excellent at what they do,” he said. “What they often need is the structure around that talent; guidance, tools, and a clearer understanding of how to navigate a career in a sustainable way.”
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Artists joining this year:
- Ananya Murali – singer-songwriter
- Dalia Yassine – film and performance maker
- Doris Tao – dancer
- Ibrahim Ustadi – actor
- Isaac Tbazz – bass player
- Ksenia Klubova – dancer, choreographer, and aerial artist
- Maitha Ali – artist and theatre maker
- Ram Farha – musical theatre actor
- Samir El Kawas – storyteller
- Sreeja Chakra – musician
- Stephanie Tadros – multidisciplinary performer and director
- Yousif Hassan – singer-songwriter
Bragin added that Numoo is designed to help artists think beyond performance, offering insight into areas like audience development, branding, and the business side of the industry.
“It’s about giving them a framework they can build on long after the programme ends,” he noted.
The Executive Artistic Director also highlighted the importance of collaboration within the programme, explaining that it creates space for artists from different genres and backgrounds to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
“That peer-to-peer exchange is incredibly valuable,” he said. “Artists are exposed to different styles, different ways of working, and that naturally expands their creative perspective while also helping them build meaningful networks.”
Rather than concentrating solely on performance, the programme helps participants understand the wider performing arts ecosystem, from branding and audience development to the practicalities of sustaining a career.
As Bragin explained, it’s about creating a viable pathway, “a model that allows artists to not only create meaningful work, but also build a future from it.”
In that sense, Numoo is not just about discovery but also about development, equipping local talent with the resources, knowledge, and confidence to thrive professionally, while contributing to a more resilient and self-sustaining cultural scene in the UAE.
For further information, visit publicprograms.nyuad.nyu.edu
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