DIAC's Green Umbrella offers shade for art, community and sustainability

In a city known for its fast pace and furious rhythms, an initiative by Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC) is attempting to increase connectivity through creativity and community gathering, in Dubai. Welcome to Green Umbrella, a weekly celebration of art, sustainability, and community that has just completed its first season, bringing people together to slow down, create, reflect and engage in meaningful conversations.

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Spearheaded by Diyali Sen Bhalla, DIAC Chairperson, in collaboration with Barkha Bahirwani, founder of YES (Your Eco Souq), Green Umbrella has evolved from being an event to becoming a movement. "This isn’t just an event," said Diyali Sen Bhalla. "It's a tradition in the making."

Held every Thursday from 3PM onwards at DIAC HQ in Jumeirah, Green Umbrella offered a space where people of all ages could bond over nostalgic board games, pottery making, upcycling workshops, and mindful conversations.

"DIAC has always been a place for creativity and expression," said Diyali Sen Bhalla. "With Green Umbrella, we're expanding that vision - bringing people together not only for art, but for shared experiences that build a stronger, more connected community."

Green Umbrella put upfront the genuine joy of human interaction. "We wanted to create something that felt like home," said Barkha Bahirwani. "A place where you can come as you are, make new friends, and rediscover the joy of making things with your hands." DIAC has been a long-standing hub for artists and creatives, and Green Umbrella blended tradition and innovation, just as the institution does.

At Green Umbrella, hands shaped clay amidst the shuffle of board games and discussions on sustainability. The games brought back childhood memories — long evenings spent with family and friends, strategizing, laughing, and bonding. Green Umbrella rekindled this magic, inviting people of all ages to put their mobiles down and engage in honest play.