Children’s Workshop: Surreal Subjects 2026

Children’s Workshop: Surreal Subjects 2026 is a free two-hour art session for young artists at Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, held on Sunday 13 December from 11am to 1pm in the centre’s Project Space on Jaddaf Waterfront. Open to children aged 6 to 13, it uses drawing and collage to make surreal portraits and landscapes, taking its cue from the work of artist Lulua Alyahya, who is currently featured in the centre’s Artists’ Rooms display.

Where the idea comes from

Artists’ Rooms is the current display at Jameel Arts Centre that features Lulua Alyahya alongside Shezad Dawood and Walid Siti, and Surreal Subjects is built around Alyahya’s room. That link to a real display is what sets the session apart from a generic craft class: children are responding to work hanging in the same building, and families can walk through the Artists’ Rooms before or after the workshop to see where the prompts came from.

What children make

The focus is on surprise. Using drawing and collage, children combine familiar people, animals and everyday objects in ways that do not quite make sense, which is exactly the point of surrealism. The session asks them to play with:

• Scale, so a teacup might tower over a person or an elephant shrink to the size of a button
• Placement, putting objects where they do not belong
• Unusual pairings, joining two unrelated things into one new creature or scene

Guided by a series of creative prompts, each child works towards a finished surreal portrait or landscape. The workshop also encourages collaboration, so children swap ideas and images with each other as they go, and hands-on exploration is very much part of the plan.

Led by Art Jameel’s education team

The session is facilitated by Shamma Alkhoori, an education specialist at Art Jameel, the organisation behind Jameel Arts Centre. Having a member of the centre’s own learning team in charge means the workshop is closely tied to what is on the walls, rather than being an outside activity dropped into the building.

Who it suits

The 6 to 13 age range covers a broad span, and the format works across it: younger children tend to enjoy the cutting and sticking of collage, while older ones can push the idea further with more deliberate compositions. No previous experience is needed, which makes it a good fit for children who are curious about art but have not taken classes before, as well as for those who already draw every day.

Registration and practical details

The workshop is free, but places must be reserved through the RSVP form linked from the Jameel Arts Centre event page. The centre notes that spaces are limited and advises registering early. All materials are provided, so children do not need to bring anything with them.

Jameel Arts Centre sits on Jaddaf Waterfront beside Dubai Creek. On a Sunday the centre is open from 10am to 8pm, so there is plenty of time to explore the galleries around the 11am to 1pm session. The centre is closed on Tuesdays and opens from midday on Fridays, which is worth knowing if you plan a return visit.

Plan a creative Sunday

13 December is a busy day for families in Dubai. Early risers can start with the Family Health Run at The Ripe Market, which sets off at 7am, then head across the city to Jaddaf in time for the workshop. For more ideas, browse our guide to kids events in Dubai, see upcoming workshops across the UAE, explore art and culture events, or plan the rest of the month with things to do in December.