The UAE’s live events calendar can be difficult to predict, with shows often springing up with very little notice. However, some dates are set in stone and always bring with them the kind of large-scale production that the country has become synonymous with. One such occasion is Dubai World Cup, which has been running annually at Meydan Racecourse since 1996 and has played host to some of Dubai’s most spectacular closing ceremonies over the years.
With such a prestigious and historic event held at the same venue year after year, the main challenge for those tasked with producing it has always been coming up with something original that pushes the boundaries of creativity. Taking on that challenge for the 2023 event was Artists In Motion (AIM), whose Project Director, Natalie Grassick, described the “blank canvas” brief from Dubai Racing Club (DRC). “The brief was extremely open-ended,” she recalled. “We were asked to create something spectacular, energetic and – most importantly – something that had never been seen before.”
AIM was awarded the project after the company’s eye-catching work on Expo 2020’s iconic centrepiece, Al Wasl Plaza. “It was important for the client that we not only had representation here in the region but also had direct experience of high-profile ceremony-style work,” explained AIM’s Founder and Head of Creative, Richard Lindsay. “Expo 2020 gave us a great platform and DRC was one of a few clients who came to us off the back of it. Good work leads to good work.”
Photos: AIM, Flash Art, AeroSPARX
