Membership at The Arts Center at NYU

This is a membership programme for The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi, the university's home for the performing arts. It marks the start of the centre's second decade and invites people who care about culture to join its community and back the work it presents on stage and screen.

The centre is now in its 11th season, which is built around the stories of the communities that make up the region and beyond. The programming looks at histories, heritages and cultures through the performing arts. Theatre, dance, music and film all feature, and the season includes a year of artist residencies with more than 40 performances. Around the shows sit Q&As, workshops and talks, so audiences can hear from the artists and take part in the conversation instead of only watching.

Members get exclusive early access to booking for the 11th season, until a closing date in late June. The idea behind membership is to bring audiences closer to the artists, create places where the community can meet, and connect ideas and inspiration.

The venue is New York University Abu Dhabi, a campus on Saadiyat Island, the city's cultural district, which also has major museums and galleries. The island is known for its beaches and its growing arts scene, and the campus is a quiet, spacious setting. It is a drive from Dubai, usually about an hour to an hour and a half by car, so the trip suits residents who want to make a day or an evening of it.

Membership suits regular theatre, dance, music and film-goers, anyone curious about the stories and cultures behind the performances, and people who like to support the arts and want first pick of the season's programme. The centre's own motto sums up the spirit: come curious, leave inspired.