• DOORS OPENED

    IN 2013 A WAREHOUSE NESTLED IN AL QUOZ, THE INDUSTRIAL PART OF DUBAI WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SETTING OF WHAT WAS TO COME.

  • AN ANTIDOTE TO THE TRADITIONAL ART MARKET IN THE REGION

    THE MINE WAS CONCEIVED AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SPACE

  • CONNECTING THE DOTS

    THE MINE WAS CONCEIVED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL ART PROJECT AND SPACE TO FILL IN THE GAPS THAT WERE MISSING IN THE WEST ASIAN ART SCENE.

  • SUBCULTURE

    IT ALWAYS WORKED TOWARDS A FRINGE CULTURE OF ARTIST-LED EXHIBITIONS, GUEST-CURATED EVENTS, TALKS, PERFORMANCES, AND 'HAPPENINGS'.

  • ARTIST RESIDENCY PARTICIPATION AT ART DUBAI

    IN 2018, THE MINE WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ART DUBAI'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND SHOWCASED THE JAPANESE ARTIST YASUAKI ONISHI AT THE FAIR AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM

  • POP-UP ART PROJECTS IN PARIS IN 2016 & 2019

  • THE MINE ENVELOPE

    AN INDEPENDENT ART PLATFORM THAT BRIDGES ARTISTS & CULTURAL AFFILIATIONS THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ADVISORY SERVICES, CURATORIAL PROJECTS & EXHIBITIONS

ABOUT THE MINE

Established as a physical art space in Dubai in 2013 by curator and culture strategist Sanaz Askari, The Mine—now an online platform and incubator—connects artists of West Asia with global audiences. Transcending the traditional gallery model, The Mine emphasises collaboration and broader engagement with art through curated pop-up exhibitions, public programming, and activations.

Acting as both a mediator and advisor, The Mine serves as a bridge between artists, non-profit organisations, institutions, and galleries, cultivating interdisciplinary connections that support artists’ careers. Drawing on its extensive network of curators, writers, collectors, cultural thinkers, and visionaries, The Mine brings together diverse artistic practices and perspectives, creating a dynamic and evolving environment for artistic exploration and exchange.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Sanaz Askari has been a central figure in the MENA art scene since 2013. Over the past decade, she has actively championed emerging artists, connecting them to international institutions and the wider art ecosystem through her platform and incubator, The Mine, as well as through her curatorial practice. In recent years Askari has been invited to curate several high-profile exhibitions in the UAE.

Askari's expertise has previously made her a sought-after cultural advisor to governments and non-profit organisations, drawing on her MBA and arts background. She has provided guidance to several prominent West Asian galleries, helping to elevate both regional and international artists. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board of POR:TA Art Association, where she has contributed to the organisation’s strategic development.