Culture helps in combatting extremism

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), said art and culture play critical roles in today’s society.

“Culture and art are simply not an adornment for society, they are a necessity and vitally important aspects of our global community that should be at the forefront of policymakers’ attention worldwide,” he exclusively told Khaleej Times.

He pointed out that culture plays a central role in combating extremism, tackling major global social, economic, and geographic issues and promoting global peace and understanding, which is why the Culture Summit is a crucial event for the UAE.

“The Culture Summit 2017 Abu Dhabi is the world’s first truly global cultural leadership forum.”

“The event has convened high-level participants from the fields of government, arts, philanthropy, heritage preservation, education, media, science and technology, from every region of the world, to discuss culture and common interests, create new collaborations, and address concrete ways in which they can address today’s societal and political challenges.”

He noted that the summit thus acts as a platform for forging relationships, coming up with creative solutions for how to tackle universal challenges through art, and creating an incubator for artists, policymakers, cultural ministers, and influential media to collaborate.

The summit’s agenda ensures broad perspectives are considered, and incorporated, into actionable outcomes.”