Al Hosn heritage site and cultural complex to open on Dec 7
abu dhabi — A date has been set for the opening of what would be the Capital’s most important heritage site and cultural complex — Al Hosn. It will be inaugurated on December 7 with days of celebrations and events, the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) — Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday.
Located in the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn is built around the city’s oldest historical site, Qasr Al Hosn, and will include three other components: the Cultural Foundation, the National Consultative Council building, and the House of Artisans.
Celebrating both the past and the present of the Capital, Al Hosn is divided into two areas. On one side is the historic area around Qasr Al Hosn, which re-establishes the original setting of a solitary building towering over a plain coastal desert landscape. On the other side is a modern heritage area around the Cultural Foundation, an urban city grid layout with a man-made, geometrical aesthetic made for various activities.
“With the Al Hosn site, we look to foster a sense of community and make a home for Emirati culture. It is a place to both reflect on our past and embrace the present, as we look to shape Abu Dhabi’s future,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, DCT — Abu Dhabi.
A witness to Abu Dhabi’s vibrant history over the past two centuries, Qasr Al Hosn has previously been home to the ruling family, the seat of the government, the consultative council, and the national archives. It encompasses two iconic buildings: the Inner Fort dating back to around 1795 and the Outer Palace, which was built in the 1940s.
Now transformed into a museum after several years of tedious conservation work, Qasr Al Hosn becomes a national monument that traces the city’s development from a fishing and pearling community to a modern, global metropolis.
“Qasr Al Hosn retraces the history of the city of Abu Dhabi, our very first building. It stands as a constant in our evolving city. It is a testament to the heart and spirit of our people and the repository of our memories,” Al Mubarak said.
The renovated Cultural Foundation will host a visual and performing arts programme, continuing the legacy started by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1981. A historical wonder on its own, the Cultural Foundation was region’s first multipurpose, nonprofit cultural centre that fostered all forms of creative activity.
The foundation now has a 900seat theatre and outdoor amphitheatre, learning and workshop facilities, and food and beverage areas. In time for the launch, its visual arts centre will present an exhibition that will showcase the building’s history as a beacon for local artists. It will also open a first-of-its-kind children’s library in 2019.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi said: “With the historic Qasr Al Hosn Fort and the modern heritage building of the Cultural Foundation sitting side by side, Al Hosn will be a year-round destination open to the wider community, including nationals wishing to know more about their heritage as well as the art lovers and intellectuals of the cultural scene.
“We wish to create once again a true home for creativity and learning, dialogue and debate, a space which celebrates not just our past but our contemporary Emirati culture as well,” he said.
Located alongside Qasr Al Hosn and Cultural Foundation, the House of Artisans will serve as the main stage of the UAE’s intangible heritage. When Unesco listed Al Sadu (weaving) on its list of Intangible Cultural Elements for Urgent Safeguarding in 2011, the House was founded to protect this tradition along with other Emirati crafts and the people who practise them.