Dubai Culture completes the “Emirati Creatives in Venice” program

Dubai Culture successfully completed the ‘Emirati Creativity in Venice’ programme, aimed at showcasing Emirati talent on the world stage and promoting interaction with outstanding artistic practices at the 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, entitled ‘Foreigners Everywhere’.

The program, supported by Sikka Platform, reflects Dubai Culture’s commitment to creating opportunities for local talent to flourish and connect with the international arts community.

As part of this initiative, 10 Emirati artists – Anoud Al Khouri, Duha Al Hallami, Elham Karimi, Fatima Abdulrahman, Fatma Al Meiri, Hend Al Murid, Maryam Al Khemeiri, Mezna Suwaidan, Nawal Ahmad and Sarah Al Khayal – took part in the cultural event . a journey to explore the diverse artistic practices represented at the Venice Biennale.

They visited the UAE Pavilion at the Salé d’Army at the Arsenale, where they viewed Abdullah Al Saadi’s exhibition “Places of Memory, Places of Amnesia”, depicting his 40-year creative journey through travel and exploration of the UAE’s natural heritage and landscapes.

The artists continued to explore Venice’s rich cultural landscape, visiting landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace, famous for its Venetian Gothic architecture; the Rubelli Foundation, dedicated to textile art; Fondazione Giorgio Cini, dedicated to glass art; and the “Pavilion of the Holy See of the Vatican Chapel” as part of the Venice Biennale, showcasing unique glass installations.

This journey provided insight into the interaction between art and the environment, prompting artists to reflect on their creative approaches.

While in Venice, the artists met with design experts and university representatives to discuss current trends in art and design.

They also met with artist Fabrizio Plessi, who emphasized the role of storytelling and the integration of technology in art.

They took part in an interactive workshop by Fernando Masone on a combination of traditional and modern art techniques.

Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Culture, visited the UAE pavilion at the Venice Biennale to support Emirati cultural initiatives abroad.

She toured exhibits highlighting the evolution of the UAE’s art scene, from the experimental artists of the 20th century to today’s diverse cultural landscape. Badri also visited various international pavilions, including the main Giardini pavilion, as well as the Saudi Arabian, Uzbekistan and Egyptian pavilions, where she explored a number of artistic works and exhibitions. During her visit, Badri met with leaders of Italian cultural institutions to discuss cooperation and exchange of Dubai Culture projects and initiatives aimed at enriching Dubai’s cultural movement.

During the Biennale, Badri met with members of the Emirati Creatives program in Venice, praising their innovative ideas that reflect the richness of Dubai’s art scene and contribute to its ambitions to create a global cultural footprint.

She reaffirmed Dubai Culture’s commitment to nurturing and empowering local talent, encouraging them to pursue their creative paths.

Dubai Culture and Google recently announced the launch of the second phase of the Dubai Culture and Heritage Project on the Google Arts & Culture platform at a special event held at the Etihad Museum.

The project is part of a strategic partnership between the two organizations to preserve and promote Dubai’s rich cultural heritage.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of Dubai’s vibrant museum scene as the city prepares to host the World Cities Culture Summit (WCCS) 2024 and the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 2025 as part of a strategy to strengthen Dubai’s profile. as a global center for culture and art.

Badri was present at the event; Anthony Nakache, Managing Director, Google MENA; Rami Jauhar, Regional Head of Google Arts & Culture EMEA; Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Dubai Culture; and representatives from the Authority and Google.

The project will play a key role in enriching Dubai’s cultural and entertainment landscape, which is a key element of the strategy to improve the quality of life in the emirate.

As part of the second phase of the Dubai Culture and Heritage Project, the Authority is collaborating with creative people from various fields to collect and present more than 130 expert-written stories in Arabic and English, as well as more than 1,200 images and 40 videos.

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