The month-long series of cultural events will feature the world’s and the nation’s most celebrated arts practitioners, offering adventures in creativity for all
Legendary performer Wynton Marsalis and revered cellist Yo-Yo Ma among the visionaries to take to the stage at the Abu Dhabi Festival
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture & Knowledge Development, the Abu Dhabi Festival 2017 starts today. Now in its 14th year, the Abu Dhabi Festival is the leading celebration of arts and culture in the region and takes places throughout the month of March. Organised annually by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the Festival features a variety of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Actively supporting emerging Emirati talent and advocating the importance of arts and culture in all aspects of life, this year’s sublime programme includes renowned artists and musicians from across the region and the world.
2017 sees Saudi Arabia as the Abu Dhabi Festival Country of Honour. Continuing its legacy, this year’s Festival celebrates the values of ‘Culture and Tolerance’ set by the late Sheikh Zayed, Founding Father of the UAE. In celebration of the Country of Honour, the Festival welcomes the renowned Saudi Arabian musician Mohamed Abdo (14 March). This illustrious performer, whose significance resounds across the region and internationally, has a particularly storied connection with the UAE – first performing in the early 1970s at the behest of the late Sheikh Zayed
The celebration of arts and culture will also see the Festival hosting globally renowned performers and artists including five-time GRAMMY award winner Tomatito (23 March), Asia’s finest orchestra China’s National Centre for The Performing Arts Orchestra (24 and 25 March), jazz legend Wynton Marsalis with a special guest appearance by Naseer Shamma (27 March), the highly acclaimed Queen Of Fado Mariza (29 March) and the sensational, electrifying and GRAMMY award-winning Silk Road Ensemble With Yo-Yo Ma (31 March).
Commenting upon the theme, H.E. Huda Ebrahim AlKhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and the Abu Dhabi Festival said: “The Abu Dhabi Festival is unique in that it harnesses culture to bring people of the UAE together. Since its inception, ADMAF has been at the heart and forefront of the UAE’s cultural sector and it is our privilege to present this array of cultural initiatives in the UAE as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival. The incredible range of artistic talent within the Festival is testament to the creative spirit of the UAE. In our eyes, the Abu Dhabi Festival is a gateway for culture to the rest of the world and conversely that brings the world to Abu Dhabi. Launched in 2004, the Festival continues to attract the highest caliber of artists to the UAE capital each year, bringing together artists, students, community groups and cultural organisations from across the UAE.”
VISUAL ARTS
This year, the Abu Dhabi Festival will see a diverse visual arts programme during the month of March and April. The exhibition, ‘The Art of Nature’ will run from 23rd March to 23rd April at Umm Al Emarat Park, featuring 40 works by talented Emirati and UAE-based artists exploring the Emirates natural environments. The exhibition, which is with the support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, marks the 20th anniversary of Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi and will feature new commissions as well as loaned pieces inspired by the landscapes, species, flora and fauna of the Emirate.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a broad educational programme under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, allowing aspiring artists of all ages to engage with UAE nature. The programme features commissioned artists Hazem Harb (leading a guided tour of the Mangrove National Park), Michael Rice, Anjali Srinivasan, Roberto Lopardo and Azza Al Qubaisi (in conversation) and a workshop by leading Emirati photographer Reem Saeed. Guided exhibition tours for adults and children will be available weekly while younger visitors can also explore the country’s marine, land and plant life in a dedicated activity area.
Each year, the Abu Dhabi Festival hosts a series of events that aim to nurture creativity among the next generation. Following last year’s success, the second edition of Picture This! workshops under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan will be led by Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi, involving up to 350 children with autism from centres across the UAE. In collaboration with Emirates Autism Society and Goals UAE Community Group and in partnership with Mubadala, the seven workshops will engage and inspire children through the art of colouring and stamping Kurab (palm eye) onto pre-stretched and prepared canvas, creating final artworks ready for public exhibition at the park.
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY EVENTS
A favourite component of the annual Abu Dhabi Festival are family-friendly events and this year’s offering will not fail to impress! Back by popular demand and with a brand new 60-minute roadshow, the Ministry of Science: The World Is One Classroom brought to you in association with Mubadala, will take students on an explosive journey into engineering and invention. The performances will include exploding Volcanos, G-Force CO2 Spinning Chairs, Fire Tornados and lots more.
For music lovers, the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) brings its annual choir festival to the UAE capital. The Amis High School Honor Choir Festival unites 200 of the most talented vocalists from international schools all over the world and will perform beautiful vocal music.
For film-lovers, the acclaimed film Let Them Come directed by the award-winning Salem Brahimi will be screened at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi followed by a panel discussion.
In collaboration with independent publishing houses and in association with Emirates Writers’ Union, Abu Dhabi Festival’s new writing programme Riwaq Al Adab Wal Kitab celebrates Arabic literature with the release of six books by Emirati authors.
For budding actors, leading theatre-makers, Dr. Habib Ghuloom Al Attar, Abeer Wakil and Mahmoud Abu Al Abbas will host The UAE Theatre Circle – an intensive, three-week, theatre training course aimed at developing the skills of a select group of aspiring actors in improvisation, voice, movement and character development.
Running alongside the public events is The Artists’ Studio, the ADMAF digital platform that inspires and informs young people about the value of creative thinking and artistic expression. The series of interviews with legends such as Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Kevin Spacey, Nujoom Al Ghanem, among others will grow with new episodes featuring some of the Festival’s headline artists. Visit YouTube/admaf96
AWARDS
During Abu Dhabi Festival 2017, The Gulf Capital–Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award 2017 will open for entries from Emirati visual arts students and emerging artists. The AED10,000 prize will be awarded to the winning submission that creates an artwork inspired by ‘The Art of Nature’. For those who want to view last year’s winning work, ‘Here’s What They Think of Me?’ by Sara Al Ahbabi, visit the Emirates Palace Auditorium Foyer from 14 to 31 March.
Afra Atiq, the winner of The Gulf Capital–ADMAF Creativity Award 2017 will have her work exhibited during the Abu Dhabi Festival. The annual award established in 1996 recognises Emirati creativity in the visual arts, performing arts, literature, animation or film. Experience her spoken word work ‘Open Letter to Cancer’ in the Emirates Palace Auditorium Foyer from 14 to 31 March.
‘Wihda (Unity)’, the winner of The 2017 Huda and Mohamed Kanoo Award by Mohammad Abualhuda, Raghad Alali and Mohammad Rowaizak will be exhibited during the Festival (check website for details). Reflecting upon the virtue of tolerance – the theme of the Abu Dhabi Festival and a core principle of Islamic society which is central to the vision of the UAE today – the multi-cellular sphere celebrates unity and diversity. ‘Wihda’ (Unity) was shortlisted for The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2017.
The Abu Dhabi Festival is presented and organised by Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation. ADMAF is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to nurture the arts, education, culture and creativity for the benefit of society and advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.
For further information on schedules, venues and performances please visit the Festival website www.abudhabifestival.ae. Abu Dhabi Festival can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram.
