Celebrating its ninth edition in 2012, the Abu Dhabi Festival has confirmed its place amongst the UAE’s cultural calendar highlights by announcing a stellar programme of world-leading artistic talent. The Festival, held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, continues its commitment to showcasing the very best of the arts, with a schedule combining classical music, theatre and performing arts, jazz, ballet and fine arts.

The Abu Dhabi Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF). Speaking at the launch of the Festival’s latest edition, Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda I. Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “The Abu Dhabi Festival 2012, under the theme of ‘Connecting Cultures’, marks the ninth edition. With more than 18 participating countries represented in the programme, the Festival this year consolidates its determination to realise the vision of the UAE; that being bilateral relations and cultural understanding that embraces the world.”

Through the theme ‘Connecting Cultures’ the Abu Dhabi Festival acknowledges the important role artistic expression plays in building partnerships of mutual understanding between people from diverse cultures and traditions. Central to the theme is cultural partnerships. Over the last nine years, the Festival has built partnerships across the seven Emirates and globally distinguished arts and cultural organisations in order to achieve today’s position of strength.

The Country of Honour this year will be the United Kingdom, a country with whom the Festival has established a number of notable strategic partnerships, including the Royal Opera House, Manchester International Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. Three outstanding collaborations and seven events making their Arab world debut will represent the country during the Festival.

“What makes this edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival particularly special is that it will not only enable us to look forward to a future filled with unlimited creative possibilities, but it will also help us look back and learn from the lessons of the past. This March, we shall pay homage to the glory days of Arab cultural expression that stretched from Andalucía to China. The Golden Age left a legacy of scientific and artistic achievement, exceeding that of any other civilization,” added H.E. Mrs Kanoo. 

H.E. Mrs Kanoo was joined at the Festival launch by distinguished guests including: Lord Hall of Birkenhead, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House; celebrated visual artist Hassan Massoudy; Abdul Aziz Musallam Director of Heritage & Cultural Affairs Department of Culture & Information in Sharjah and Amina Taher Manager, Mubadala Group Communications. 

Inspiring a generation of cultural leaders: Educational endeavour

The Abu Dhabi Festival is committed to providing support and inspiration through its many education initiatives that run parallel to, and beyond, the Festival. With a firm belief in the transformative power of the arts and music in assisting the intellectual nourishment and development of children and young people, the Festival aims to bring the arts to more schools and colleges than ever before.

After the success of ‘Macbeth’ in 2011, the acclaimed UK theatre company, Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe, returns to Abu Dhabi with another thrilling play and workshops. ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ will bring Shakespeare to life and enhance the English language and literature curriculum. 

Building on the partnership between Abu Dhabi Festival and Manchester International Festival (MIF), the education programme will feature MIF’s ‘Music Boxes’. Events will include the Scottish Opera’s BabyO which offers babies an unforgettable musical experience by seamlessly combining recorded music with live singing. Jake Rodrigues’s event will encourage song and dance in the innovative ’Ukulele World’. The BBC Philharmonic Maestro will offer a unique interactive musical experience for children while the sensory show, Oily Cart - ‘Drum’, is specifically designed for babies and toddlers. 

As a yearly highlight of the Festival, Young Artists’ Day returns to nurture the competitive spirit and young talent of Abu Dhabi’s future generation of artists. This year aspiring musicians will perform alongside the renowned Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble ACJW. 

Topical issues in culture and the arts will be discussed through ‘Riwaq Al Fikr/The Festival Debates’. A total of five panel discussions will bring together a series of leading experts to explore diverse subjects including cultural diplomacy, arts education and the legacy of Arab heritage. Riwaq Al Fikr will also commemorate and explore the legacy of the late Dr. Walid Gholmieh, the eminent composer and conductor. In recognition of his lifetimes work and tireless support of ADMAF and its initiatives over the last 15 years, in addition to his contribution to the cultural and artistic landscape of the region, Dr. Gholmieh will receive the 2012 Abu Dhabi Festival Award. 

Giving audiences the opportunity to explore the visual arts, the Festival is delighted to welcome renowned Iraqi artist and calligrapher Hassan Massoudy, whose exhibition ‘Gestures of Light’ will feature in ‘Ways of Seeing’. Through the programme of workshops, artist-led walk-throughs and lectures visitors will be able to explore Massoudy’s unique talent and discuss the themes and inspiration behind his work. The exhibition will be held at the Ghaf Gallery from March 19 – April 15. 

Celebrating the spirit of ‘Bilad Al Khayr’: Community commitment

The Abu Dhabi Festival Community programme seeks to embed the arts and music in communities across the seven Emirates, by inspiring those who wish to learn and experience a diversity of cultural heritage. By upholding the legacy of ‘Bilad Al Khayr (Land of Blessings)’ by the late Sheikh Zayed, the Festival plays an important role in re-awakening traditional art forms, including music and poetry, and bringing these and many other cultural assets to those who may most benefit. 

Amongst the community programme highlights are the ever-popular Hakawati - Stories of Al Tanboori. Building on the success of 2009 and 2010 Festivals, the ninth edition presents a tour of the Western Region and Northern Emirates by Ahmed Yousef and his Sharjah-based traditional Hakawati troupe of actors, bringing to life the mythical characters of Arabia through puppetry, shadow puppets, and wonder box. 

A specially adapted production of Richard Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ will feature emerging Emirati acting talent from the Resuscitation Theatre. The cast of this comedy of manners includes Fatima Al Taei and Saeed Al-Dhaheri, with Faisal Al Zaabi as Assistant Director.

For the third consecutive year, the Abu Dhabi Festival presents the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Premiere Music College of Prague Youth Symphony Orchestra in the 8th Emirates International Peace Music Festival as they tour the UAE to showcase new talent.

There will also be a range of music and artistic workshops in orphanages, hospitals and special needs centres across the UAE aimed at empowering, and encouraging people to explore the arts.

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