Numoo - The Arts Center’s Professional Development Program for Performing Artists

Numoo, meaning growth in Arabic, is The Arts Center’s Professional Development Program for Performing Artists. It is designed as an accelerator to foster the individual career growth of performing artists based in the UAE, with the goal of contributing to the development of the arts ecosystem across the nation. 

The program is created for performing artists from disciplines including, but not limited to, music, theater, dance, spoken word, performance and live art, and combinations of multiple disciplines, who are up and coming in their field and have a demonstrated desire to make the UAE their artistic home.

APPLICATIONS FOR NUMOO 2026 ARE NOW OPEN

Numoo is focused on professional skills and process, rather than being end-product-oriented or directed toward artists’ creative practice. It is designed to help each artist grow professionally in their field and empower them to bring their work to the public, in the UAE and abroad.

After a rigorous application process, artists selected for the Numoo program receive guidance from The Arts Center team, invited international arts professionals, and each other.

The program's curriculum includes the following course elements:

1. Defining and Pitching Your Vision
2. Building Your Team
3. Producing Your Work
4. Fundraising and Partnerships
5. Intellectual Property
6. Building Your Brand
7. Contracts and Negotiation
8. Touring
9. Working with Production / Developing Your Technical Rider
10. Final project presentations synthesizing your new knowledge

After its pilot online edition in 2021-22 and two subsequent in-person cohorts in 2023 and 2024, 24 artists have graduated from Numoo. Numoo’s fourth edition will take place from May to August 2026. Learn more about the program through the short videos of the 2024 and 2023 cohorts below.