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UAE's art, culture showcased in Paris

Abu Dhabi - The UAE Cultural Week is an important platform that exemplifies a long-standing friendship between the UAE and France.

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The local culture and art scene of the UAE was recently flown to Paris in a four-day event that featured distinct Emirati creations and masterpieces, along with talks and film screenings. Driven by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development as part of the 2018-2019 UAE-France Cultural Dialogue, the UAE Cultural Week was wrapped up on Sunday.
It was attended by one of the youngest art patrons in the country, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chairman The UAE Cultural Week is an important platform that exemplifies a long-standing friendship between the UAE and Franceof UAE Unlimited.
"The UAE Cultural Week is an important platform that exemplifies a long-standing friendship between the UAE and France, showcasing creative energies of the young talents," said Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
"It has established new avenues for collaboration in the cultural and creative sectors while exposing the French public to our rich heritage and culture. We truly believe that culture is a force that transcends borders and creates constructive intercultural dialogue and we look forward to building on this partnership to promote not only our bilateral ties but our human connections as well."
From the artworks exhibited to the performances and talks that were held, the four-day event showcased not just the rich Emirati heritage but also how it blends with the French culture and other inspirations from across the world.
"Cultural dialogue is an integral part of the overall vision of the UAE Unlimited, which has created opportunities around learning through collaborations across the UAE," said Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chairman of UAE Unlimited.
"Art has an important yet varied role in the evolution of the whole art scene in the UAE," he added.
The week provided an opportunity for a number of cultural institutions from across the country to come together and highlight a wealth of creativity from the region.
Dubai Design District (d3) featured 'UAE Design Stories: The Next Generation from the Emirates', an exhibition displaying contemporary design from Emirati designers, which was showcased at leading international design fairs across the world. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of d3, said: "It's vital for the continued growth of Dubai's creative scene to support initiatives like these and showcase the best of the region's creative talents."
 'Co-Lab: Contemporary art and savoir-faire', on the other hand, presented artworks by four artists based in the UAE and another four leading manufacturers in France.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi, said celebrating the UAE Cultural Week in Paris was an important milestone in promoting the contemporary design aesthetic of local artists and designers.
Discussions on graphic design and typography were also part of the week's programme, featuring speakers like Salem AlQassimi, principal and founder of Fikra, and Léa Rolland and Redouan Chetuan from Radiographique.
 Other talks showcased the art movement in Abu Dhabi and how art is democratised for the youth, as presented by the Fatima bint Hazza Cultural Foundation; the influence of cities on art by UAE Unlimited; Co-Lab: inspiration and creation, by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi; as well as Dubai: a thriving arts scene, which depicted how the UAE has become a regional arts and culture hub over the past two decades, by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
An evening was also dedicated to a classical concert at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, in the memory of the UAE founding father, titled the Art of Zayed.

UAE-France cultural dialogue stronger in new phase

The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and the French embassy in Abu Dhabi launched the second phase of the French-Emirati Cultural Dialogue on Monday, marking how the two countries' strong partnership nurtures creative communities.
Held at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the launch was attended by Noura bint Mohamed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
"During the course of the first phase of the French-Emirati Cultural Dialogue, we have overseen the implementation of ambitious initiatives and projects demonstrating the boundless energy of our creative youth and their willingness to use this force to achieve innovative projects," said Al Kaabi."
"This has led to the inevitable launch of the second phase, which will emphasise two key topics: 'arts and artificial intelligence' and 'protecting endangered cultural heritage', in line with our efforts in supporting Aliph for the protection of cultural endangered heritage around the world."
The minister stressed that the cultural dialogue is bound to grow stronger, promoting more creative and innovative collaborations. As it goes into the new phase, the scope of the dialogue has been expanded to include other fields such as design, cinema, fashion, music, opera, theatre, poetry, and creativity.
"Multiple panel discussions will be organised in Abu Dhabi, hosting key experts and officials to discuss culture, arts and history," she said.
To mark the Year of Zayed, a filmed book entitled 'France UAE: Strategic Partnership' will be launched, along with an exhibition titled  "Sheikh Zayed and Europe: The Journey", which showcases rare images, movies and voice recordings of the UAE founding father.

KT NANO EDIT

Rising above the differences
Even as culture transcends borders, dialogue is the intelligent way of resolving differences and clashes of interests. Recognising, familiarising and accepting other cultures help develop respect and mutual understanding which could be harbingers for peace and stability among nations. It's time the world recognised its common humanity. Cultural dialogues between nations can underscore the fact that the world has far more opportunities than imagined.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com