ABU DHABI // Seeing children “waste their time” on television and video games was enough to make one Emirati mother quit her job as a mechanical engineer and set up a community art centre in the capital.
Amal Al Maamari, 36, who previously had a successful government job, said she wants to focus on children’s education and inspire creativity with her Art Beat studio on Muroor Road.
The Abu Dhabi Education Council-approved studio is a place where children, parents and teachers can spend time practising artistic skills.
Ms Al Maamari has a Masters in Business Management from the UK and she completed her Bachelor of Engineering from UAE University.
“The business is not for profit, but to spread awareness among the community’s parents to focus on their children’s “motor skills” and avoid them spending time on watching television and playing video games,” said Ms Al Maamari, a mother of three, who is general manager of the studio.
“[TV and video games] just spoil their mental abilities and worsens physical stamina and deteriorates their eyesight, in my opinion. It doesn’t add anything good to them — it’s waste of time,” she said.
“I like the sports activities for them and to do some art, it helps kids to improve their thinking, problem solving and how they can do anything and come up with a nice idea and nice projects. That’s why I thought of something more related to kids,” she said.
“I usually encourage my kids either to do one of the sports after school activities or doing something more productive.”
Over the last two years the arts and crafts centre is becoming increasingly popular.
About five families visit the art studio every day, where she teaches parents, teachers and kids how to paint T-shirts, ceramics, porcelain glass, fabric and on canvas. It also offers decoupage on glass, wood, candle decorating, sand art and window sticker making.
“My work is not generating money but it’s a kind of service to the community. It’s a service to many parents and families who don’t have any options for their kids in their free time.”
She plans to expand the business in coming years and be able to accommodate 30 people at a time.
“I need bigger rooms to cater more groups at one time,” Ms Al Maamari said.
“Truly, it wasn’t easy to have a full time job plus a baby. Then I had to choose a job or my children’s future.”
She tried to combine her job and make time for her children, but it did not go well.
“I wanted to be more involved in their lives. So, I thought to be flexible — either I get a part-time job, which is not easy to find in Abu Dhabi for locals, or I have my own business.
“I thought of the business as it will give me flexibility. So that I can spend time with my children and at the same time I would be able to focus on my business,” she said.
Now she holds workshops, birthday parties, school trips and art classes.
Lessons prices start from Dh25 and the maximum is Dh250 for big projects, which takes five days to finish.
She also took some part time courses in the UK, while most of the designs and crafts taught are done by her.
“We want to show people that they can be creative the way they want, they don’t have to be talented to practice art,” she said.
I am happy what I am doing, I really miss going back to engineering and I am part of it few times because I have been very passionate about engineering,” she said.
“But at the same time I don’t want to lose my involvement with my children’s lives.
anwar@thenational.ae
