Gemma Gallagher: Design & Dine, Dubai
Meet Gemma Gallagher…
Gemma Gallagher is an award-winning Visual Artist and the Founder of Design & Dine, a Creative Workshop company based in the UAE and Northern Ireland.
The aim was to create an event where guests could discover their creative abilities and learn to make art in a fun, sociable environment. What started as a small workshop has now grown to become the UAE’s largest interactive, creative experience with consistent sell-out events and over 7000 guests having attended so far.
After founding Design & Dine in 2015, she has built the company up to operate across multiple cities with a team of Artists from around the world working with her to make Art fun and accessible to everyone.
Her vision is to grow Design & Dine to be a global brand, allowing anyone to have fun and connect through the joy of creativity.
In today’s episode we talk about:
Growing up on the Antrim Road in the 90s
Working on a banana farm in Australia
What brought her to Abu Dhabi in 2014
Her experience working as a teacher in the Middle East
Where she got the idea to start her business
How she scaled her events from 15, to 25, to 50, to 100 people
The secret to incredible in-person events
What she misses most about home
And her greatest highs/lows of the journey so far.
Check it out.
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Treasure Trove
One thing most people don't know about you:
I started selling Paintings in galleries when I was a teenager and gave workshops to other students when I was still in University — and that I've lived and worked in 5 different countries.
Favourite Book:
Atomic Habits by James Clear & The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris.
Favourite Quote:
Fortune Favours the Bold
Last but not least, is there anything you'd like us to promote? If so, please pop some links below:
Design & Dine is coming to Belfast this Summer!
Check out our #SaturdaySocial Bottomless Brunch here.
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Today's episode is part of our collaboration with NI Connections where we catch up with someone incredible from Northern Ireland doing interesting things overseas on the last Monday of every month.
To discover more amazing diaspora stories, check out their website niconnections.com where you can also sign up for their free, monthly newsletter.
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Thanks again to Gemma Gallagher for taking the time to share her story with us.
See you next time.
— Matt
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