Cultural appreciation is path to social harmony, says minister
The understanding and appreciation of culture are vital to the UAE’s social cohesion, dignitaries said at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, praised the expansive role of the culture sector in strengthening community bonds across the country.
“The role of government, the private sector through art exhibits, museums, news organisations, musical events, drama, sporting events, film festivals, literature festivals and poetry contests must all be understood, as well as the contributions of various other communities with different cultures. Religious and philosophical beliefs must be encouraged and appreciated,” he said.
“It has now become supremely urgent that we not only understand the bonds that unite us as a member of the human family, but that we also actively promote and reinforce them.
“The more we understand each other’s culture and values, the more sensitive we would become to each other’s needs. And the more tolerant we are of the divergent cultures of our global citizens, the closer we will get to world peace.”
The UAE’s society is informed by Emirati culture and heritage, Sheikh Nahyan said. “We Emiratis have a distinctive relationship with God. We value our own history and traditions. We revere our families. We like to engage and succeed in business. We value our relations with our brothers, sisters, and friends around the world,” he said.
“We also support and encourage established and inspiring writers and artists and we take a broad view of culture to include imaginative entrepreneurial efforts related to creative industries.”
This year’s Culture Summit
Abu Dhabi had the theme A Matter of Time, with discussions aiming to provoke a new meaning of time informed by culture, human awareness and nature.
Speakers at the three-day event included Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, and Syrian poet Adonis.
The culture sector can play an integral role in efforts to tackle the major crises engulfing the world, according to Minister of Culture Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi.
In his speech at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Salem said cultural and creative industries can offer solutions due to their inherent innovation and understanding of shared history.
“We cannot exist in a vacuum and have to be mindful of how global events are reshaping the world around us,” he told delegates on Monday.
“Climate change, conflict destruction and health emergencies pose significant threats. All aspects of our lives are being affected, including our culture and our heritage. We must use this opportunity to gather here, over the course of the summit, to find real tangible solutions for us and the global communities in order to protect and preserve various forms of cultural expressions. Urgent co-ordinated action is needed now more than ever.”
Referring to Cop 28, which took place in Dubai in December, Sheikh Salem said the establishment of the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action can play an important role by providing international recognition for culture-based climate action.
Co-chaired by the UAE and Brazil minister of cultures, the body was described by Sheikh Salem as an “informal coalition” of 32 countries and 25 intergovernmental and civil society organisations which aims to build political support for urgent policies to tackle climate change. The group is due to issue a report at Cop 29 in Azerbaijan in November.
Sheikh Salem also praised the success of last month’s Unesco World Conference on Culture and Art Education in Abu Dhabi. The gathering of 190 ministers of education and culture concluded with a resolution to adopt a new international framework for art and culture education.
“The framework also recognised the significance of developing artistic and cultural knowledge so that the younger generation is able to pursue it in a professional capacity in the future,” he said.
The creative industries also need to be part of the conversation when it comes to grappling with rapid technological advancements, Sheikh Salem said. “Artificial intelligence has revolutionised the way culture is being produced and consumed,” he explained.
“While it can present itself as a helpful tool in various aspects of cultural dissemination and promotion, we must also remember that safeguarding individual creativity and expression must remain a priority. Digital transformation and culture must serve to bridge gaps and definitely not widen them.
“Generative AI and other technology advancements are, however, making it clear that intellectual property protection is more crucial than ever.”
Sheikh Salem pointed to the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence as an example of inclusive policymaking. “It is a blueprint for integrating artificial intelligence into various sectors including culture,” he added.
“This strategy is not limited to economic growth, but also considers how we can enrich our cultural landscape for a sustainable and more liveable future.
“As practitioners, as policymakers, it’s imperative that we consider how AI can help us transform cultural experiences and make them accessible and fair to the wider audience.”
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi ended in the capital yesterday, with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, due to be among the speakers.
We must protect and preserve various forms of cultural expressions. Urgent co-ordinated action is needed now
SHEIKH SALEM BIN KHALID AL QASSIMI Minister of Culture