Jameel Library

Library

Jameel Library is an open contemporary arts research centre dedicated to the cultural histories of the Gulf and its neighbouring regions. Located at the heart of Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, this growing multimedia collection features books, journals, catalogues, theses, artists’ files and ephemera in English, Arabic and other languages.

The collection focuses on making knowledge embedded in arts and culture accessible, enabling multiple narratives and highlighting the fluidity of ideas. Key content subjects include exhibition histories, pedagogy and alternative arts education projects, contemporary discourse and theory from and about the region as well as selected artists’ monographs and mapped journeys of practice. Alongside the physical collection, the library hosts a dynamic lineup of public programmes including reading groups, research commissions, compiled reading lists and art-based writing workshops.

Digital Resources and Access

In addition to physical holdings, a suite of digital resources is available to support both online and on-site research.

Online Exploration

Researchers can search the full Jameel Library Online catalogue and access the digital volume selection via the eBook collection.

On-Site Access

On-site research at the library premises includes access to JSTOR as well as subscriptions to specialised journals, including ArtReview, ArtReview Asia and Orientations.

Special Collections

The library houses distinct collections that require prior booking to access on the premises. 

Special and Ephemera Collection

This collection houses a continually growing repository of zines, independently published material, artist books, rare or out-of-print items, children’s ephemera, journals and the Art Jameel archives produced both locally and internationally. Bookings to access the Special and Ephemera Collections can be made directly here.

Artist Files

A dedicated archive documenting artists and their practices, this collection includes ephemeral items, exhibition support materials, pamphlets, brochures, price listings, prints, postcards, layouts, diagrams, sketches and sample materials. Bookings to access the Artist Files can be made here.

Library Programming

Library Circles

Library Circles feature ongoing research, talks and experimental interventions by UAE practitioners in the Jameel Library and the Jameel Arts Centre. The programme explores alternative research methodologies and representations with a focus on ‘thinking in public’.

This initiative is specifically dedicated to supporting emerging, unestablished practitioners and researchers, particularly those who do not have prior publishing credits. Conceived as a collaborative platform for ongoing research, Library Circles provides a supportive environment where practitioners can refine their investigative threads and structural frameworks alongside the Jameel Library team. The team works closely with researchers, including those who have never displayed research before, to develop and translate raw inquiries into tangible displays that can be shared publicly.

To expand the boundaries of the regional archive, all focal research subjects and inquiries must be strictly relevant to the cultural, historical or artistic histories of the GCC region. Projects are expected to actively engage with external, uncollected source materials, pointing to the ways traditional books and published volumes fall short of containing all relevant historical sources. Through these experimental interventions, the programme actively stretches the library’s capabilities and considerations regarding how diverse research materials are included, preserved and proliferated.

Upcoming library programming and events can be viewed on the What’s On page. Information on past Library Circles is available here, and the online iterations of previous Library Circles can be viewed here.

Jameel Library Readings

Jameel Library Readings is a digital video series that invites artists, collaborators and friends of the library to read and respond to specific items from the collection. Rather than operating as a live public programme, the series serves as a dedicated public output featuring recorded reflections on the library’s multimedia resources.

Participants frequently include contemporary artists exhibiting at Jameel Arts Centre alongside regional practitioners who select a text, journal or archive piece to cross-examine and unpack. Through these filmed responses, the series bridges the gap between the library’s holdings and active creative practices, making the knowledge embedded in the collection accessible to a wider online audience. The video series can be viewed on the Art Jamel Channel on YouTube.

Jameel Library Commission

The annual Jameel Library Commission is a year-long research and creative programme that invites artists, designers and creative practitioners to engage with materials within the library collection to produce new creative outputs. Emphasising process over a singular finished product, the commission offers an opportunity for audiences to view the artwork as it unfolds over time.

The resulting projects are released progressively in chapters or instalments rather than all at once, creating an ongoing dialogue between the practitioner and the public. Each commission includes a dedicated online component for sharing the evolving work, alongside a selected reading list accessible to library visitors and researchers.