Dubai Culture concludes ‘Emirati Creatives in Venice Programme’

Dubai Culture has successfully concluded its “Emirati Creatives in Venice Programme,” aimed at showcasing Emirati talent on the global stage and promoting engagement with prominent art practices at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, themed “Foreigners Everywhere”

Supported by the Sikka Platform, the programme 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 — Anood Al Khoori, Duha Al Hallami, Elham Karimi, Fatima Abdulrahman, Fatma Al Mheiri, Hend Al Murid, Maryam AlHemeiri, Mezna Suwaidan, Nawal Ahmad, and Sara Al Khayyal — participated in a cultural journey exploring the diverse artistic practices displayed at the Venice Biennale.

They visited the UAE Pavilion at Arsenale’s Sale d’Armi, where they experienced Abdulla Al Saadi’s exhibit, “Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia,” a portrayal of his 40-year creative journey through his travels and explorations of the UAE’s natural heritage and landscapes.

The artists further explored Venice’s rich cultural landscape, visiting landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace, renowned for its Venetian Gothic architecture; the Rubelli Foundation, focused on textile arts; the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, dedicated to glass arts; and the “Vatican Chapel’s Pavilion of the Holy See” within the Venice Biennale, showcasing unique glass installations.

This journey offered insights into the interplay between art and environment, encouraging the artists to reflect on their creative approaches.

During their time in Venice, the artists met design experts and university representatives to discuss contemporary trends in art and design.

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

They participated in an interactive workshop by Fernando Masone on combining traditional and modern art techniques.

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

She viewed exhibits highlighting the evolution of the UAE’s art scene, spanning experimental 20th-century artists to a contemporary, diverse cultural landscape. Badri also toured various international pavilions, including the main Giardini Pavilion and the Saudi, Uzbek, and Egyptian pavilions, where she explored a range of artistic expressions and exhibits. During her visit, Badri met with directors of Italian cultural institutions to discuss collaboration and sharing Dubai Culture’s projects and initiatives to enrich Dubai’s cultural movement.

While at the Biennale, Badri met members of the Emirati Creatives in Venice Programme, commending their innovative ideas that reflect the richness of Dubai’s art scene and contribute to its ambition of establishing a global cultural footprint.

She reiterated Dubai Culture’s commitment to nurturing and empowering local talent, encouraging them to continue their creative journeys.

Recently, Dubai Culture and Google announced the launch of the second phase of Dubai’s Culture and Heritage project on the Google Arts & Culture platform at a special event held at the Etihad Museum.

The project forms part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations aimed at preserving and promoting Dubai’s rich cultural heritage.

This initiative seeks to raise awareness of Dubai’s vibrant museum scene as the city prepares to host the 2024 World Cities Culture Summit (WCCS) and the 27th International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference in 2025, as part of the strategy to consolidate Dubai’s status as a global hub for culture and the arts.

The event was attended by Badri; Anthony Nakache, Managing Director at Google MENA; Rami Jawhar, EMEA Regional Lead at Google Arts & Culture; Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Director of the Marketing & Corporate Communication Department at Dubai Culture; and representatives from the Authority and Google.

The project will play a pivotal role in enriching Dubai’s cultural and entertainment landscape, a key pillar of the strategy’s objective of enhancing the emirate’s quality of life.

As part of the second phase of Dubai’s Culture and Heritage project, the Authority is collaborating with creatives from various fields to collect and present over 130 expert-curated stories in both Arabic and English, along with more than 1,200 images and 40 videos.

WAM