Abu Dhabi Festival
Held under the patronage of of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Festival is the UAE’s leading celebration of arts and culture. Launched in 2004, it continues to attract the highest calibre of artists to the UAE capital every year. The Festival has secured its place as the Arabian Gulf’s largest cultural event and has established partnerships with some of the world’s most influential cultural institutions including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Opera House, Manchester International Festival and Carnegie Hall. In addition to a world-class, multidisciplinary programme at Emirates Palace, the Festival’s educational and community programmes bring together artists, students, community groups and cultural organisations from across the UAE. The Abu Dhabi Festival actively supports emerging Emirati talent and advocates the importance of arts and culture in all aspects of life in the UAE.
Vision
The Festival’s principal aim is to broaden cultural understanding globally while inspiring a renewed interest in the arts and heritage of the UAE.
It seeks to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s becoming a global destination of cultural enlightenment, knowledge development, respect and tolerance. Through new commissions as well as international and regional premieres, it pushes the boundaries of artistic excellence and creative innovation.
Abu Dhabi Festival reinforces the capital’s profile as an international arts metropolis; embedding art, education, culture and creativity into the heart of the Emirate. The Festival is a strong advocate of cross-cultural understanding and plays a major role in cultivating the new artistic renaissance across the Middle East.
Each year, the Festival brings audiences together to share unique experiences that testify to our shared humanity; the deep bonds we share and that unite – always growing, always innovating; bringing the best of the world to Abu Dhabi, and taking the very best of Abu Dhabi to the world.
Commissions
An incubator of artistic production, the Abu Dhabi Festival has commissioned numerous works of international standing, such as Zaha Hadid’s JS Bach Chamber Music Hall (in partnership with Manchester International Festival & Holland Festival), and Mohammed Fairouz’s Symphony No.5, to be premiered in 2020. It has also hosted many world premieres, and invited international artists to give their debut appearances in the Arab World, for example The World Orchestra for Peace, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Acosta, The Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and American Ballet Theatre. In addition, the Festival actively supports emerging Emirati talent locally.
Education
Abu Dhabi Festival has an educational programme which brings together participating artists, school, college and university students from across the UAE. It also helps in the positioning of the capital as a place where the world’s leading cultural minds meet and exchange ideas through public, lifelong learning initiatives.
Awards
The Abu Dhabi Festival Award is presented each year to participating national university students who have excelled in the fields of performing and visual arts, music, film, literature and communication.
External links
References
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