Tashkeel currently consists of a 2,800sq.m building (built in 1987) in the district of Nad Al Sheba, which includes a gallery, studios for the practice of specific artistic disciplines (fine art, digital, 3D, darkroom, photography, printmaking, textile printing); a library; lounge, garden and workspaces.

Alumni include Abdulla Al Mulla, Aljoud Lootah, Zeinab Al-Hashemi,[34] Latifa Saeed,[35] Khalid Shafar, Salem Al-Mansoori,[14] Lana El Samman, Alya Aleghfeli, Renad Hussein, Lina Ghalib, Nada Abu Shaqra, Neda Salmanpour, Hala Al-Ani, Myrtille Ronteix, Hatem Hatem, Hamza Omari, Amer Aldour, Zuleika Penniman,[36] Lujaine Rezk, Lujain Abulfaraj, Rand Abdul Jabar, Talin Hazbar,[35] and Saher Olver Samman.

The forerunner of Tanween, Design Road Pro, was a collaboration between Tashkeel, Barcelona’s Creative Dialogue Association and Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

[38] The aim of the programme is to provide the artist with sustained and empowering support to develop their work in an environment that encourages progressive experimentation, cross-discipline exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.

Each year over 80 applicants across the Persian Gulf region compete for the chance to produce their concepts inspired by a specific theme and win an all-expenses paid trip to L’École Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris.

Theoretical courses for practitioners include Critical Dialogues,[46] which explores the mechanisms of critique, and Professional Practice.“There’s an appetite and even a hunger for these forums of discussion and exchange,” Jones says.

This group of women really benefitted from each other’s experience above and beyond what the subject matter was.” (Kevin Jones on the Critical Dialogues workshop sessions he leads at Tashkeel).

In addition, it showcases the creative process through nine case studies of the fonts produced during these workshops, presenting them as sources of inspiration and examples for new and experimental Arabic typefaces.