We did an Etsy search for Dubai, and only found 11 results. Some of them appear to be from people who have been to Dubai and photographed it or who get a Dubian sensibility from their work, like this shifting sand bracelet. But we’re more inclined towards artists who actually live here. Take Mr. Beau Jangles, who lives in Dubai and has a “I [heart] BJ” banner on his Etsy profile. He’s part of the collective ArteDubai, a group of Artisans living in the UAE and sell at the Arts & Crafts Soukh in Dubai. TheCuriousNomad is an artist in Dubai who makes fantastical photos and papergoods. Check out their work, and as we continue to search for cultural capital in Dubai, we’ll let you know what we find.

Dubai exists as a cultural mirage. From a distance, the city surface offers a shimmering landscape of artistic and cultural possibility. But what hides behind this alluring flash? Can a city of perceived artificiality support a vibrant cultural scene and a thriving art market?

The feature-length documentary Cultural Capital: Finding Art in Dubai examines this paradox. The film chronicles the Dubai art fair season with a particular focus on Art Dubai, the city’s signature contemporary art event. Art Dubai and its satellite fairs bring over a billion dollars to the city. After the glitz of Art Dubai dissipates, what happens to the artists and the art? After the dust settles on the spectacular events of Art Dubai, what happens to the collectors who visit them, the artists who support them, and the workers who build them? Cultural Capital searches for the artistic wealth of Dubai in the build up and dismantling of such cultural events.