Dubai Art Season concludes with ‘Arts & Culture Forum’

To be held at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the ‘Arts & Culture Forum’ will discuss the evolution of Dubai’s artistic landscape, with an emphasis on the city’s ability to provide a platform for artists and enthusiasts to create and innovate and contribute to the city’s cultural fabric.

Moderated by Dubai Art Season’s Advisor, Yusaka Imamura, the ‘Art & Culture Forum’ will see attendance from notable industry experts including His Excellency Jamal Bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundation; Jude Kelly, Artistic Director, South Bank Centre, London; Chris Wainwright, Pro Rector and Professor, University of the Arts, London; and Emirati artist, Mattar Bin Lahej.

First line from left: His Excellency Jamal Bin Huwaireb, Chris Wainwright, Yusaka Imamura, Second line from left: Jude Kelly and Mattar Bin Lahej.

The forum will focus on three key topics: ‘Dubai as a Creative City – The role of Culture as the engine behind the city;’ ‘Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Art in the City;’ and ‘New Creative Platforms for Dubai.’

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Culture, said: “Dubai has evolved into an international centre for creativity, bringing together industry experts, bold ideas, and events that create and celebrate culture and the arts. The inaugural Dubai Art Season, the umbrella arts initiative of the city, facilitated the exchange of ideas, promoted new artistic collaborations and truly fostered a genuine appreciation for the arts. With the Arts & Culture Forum, we are creating another strong platform for interaction between experts, artists and art enthusiasts to discuss the underlying fabric of creative cities, while exploring Dubai’s creative potential, especially as the city prepares to host what is envisaged to be the world’s best Expo in 2020. Our goal is to sustain the dynamism of the Dubai Art Season throughout the year, serve as a sounding board for path-breaking creativity, and create an even more vibrant calendar of events, made in Dubai, by Dubai-based and international artists in the next season."

'Dubai Art Season' united the city’s premier arts events including Art Week, and Middle East Film & Comic Con. Art Week celebrated three flagship events, Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, and SIKKA Art Fair. Over 150 events, as well as panel discussions, workshops, performances, outdoor art projects and exhibitions were held over the course of the month.

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) was launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture plays a critical part in achieving the vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 of establishing the city as vibrant, global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the world.

The organisation has announced several initiatives that strengthen the historic and modern cultural fabric of Dubai. These include: The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards: The first of its kind initiative in the Arab world honouring individuals and organisations who have made financial or in kind contributions through sustained support to visual arts, performing arts, literature and film in the region; Dubai Art Season: The city’s premier umbrella arts initiatives which encompasses of Art Week (Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, and SIKKA Art Fair), Middle East Film & Comic Con, and Gulf Film Festival, to highlight the Emirate’s growing creative landscape within the international circuit; SIKKA Art Fair: An annual art fair aimed at promoting Emirati and local artists in the UAE; Dubai Heritage Season: A six-month long initiative that aims to bring the city’s heritage to the forefront through an array of cultural activities; and Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre: An annual festival that celebrates and fosters the art of theatre in the UAE.