Qasr Al Hosn fort to reopen on December 7
RENOVATED HISTORIC SITE WITH FOUR DISTINCT SECTIONS IS EXPECTED TO BECOME CULTURAL HUB IN ABU DHABI
The renovated Qasr Al Hosn fort in Abu Dhabi will reopen on December 7, the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced yesterday.
Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest and most significant heritage site in Abu Dhabi city, encompassing two iconic buildings: The Inner Fort dating back to around 1795 and the Outer Palace, which was built in the 1940s. Over the past two centuries it has previously been home to the ruling family, the seat of government, the consultative council and the national archives.
The renovated site will now consist of four sections: Qasr Al Hosn fort, Cultural Foundation, National Consultative Council building and House of Artisans.
The premises of the Cultural Foundation will host a diverse visual and performing arts programme at the opening.
Its Visual Arts Centre will organise an exhibition which will focus on the building’s history as a beacon for local artists. The Foundation will reopen in phases, with December 7 allowing public access to the Visual Arts Centre, featuring exhibition halls and art studios.
A theatre and children’s library will open in 2019.
“Qasr Al Hosn is a testament to the heart and spirit of our people and the repository of our collective memories, and its reopening is a key moment for both the citizens of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE,” said Mohammad Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
Saif Saeed Gobash, undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said the opening of the Qasr Al Hosn will create a unique cultural site.
“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 for art-lovers and intellectuals. 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.”
Permanent exhibitions
Qasr Al Hosn’s Inner Fort and Outer Palace will host permanent exhibitions providing insights into the lives of the men, women and children who lived in the Outer Palace, and exploring the story of the conservation of the fort’s structures. The exhibitions will include archival material, audio-visuals and interactive experiences. There will also be as archaeology, and architectural tours; re-enactments of aspects of daily life and rituals at the fort; a majlis programme and activities for children and youth.
Cultural Foundation
Founded by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1981, the Cultural Foundation was the region’s first dedicated multipurpose non-profit cultural centre, conceived as a public institution with a mandate to foster all forms of intellectual and creative activity.
Its reopening comes after major upgrades including the introduction of the first children’s library, open gallery for visual arts, indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces, 900-seat theatre and outdoor amphitheatre, learning and workshop facilities, and food and beverage areas.
House of Artisans
Located alongside Qasr Al Hosn and Cultural Foundation, the House of Artisans was founded as a coordinated effort to protect and support this and other traditional Emirati crafts and those who practice them.
In 2011, Unesco listed Al Sadu (weaving) on its List of Intangible Cultural Elements for Urgent Safeguarding, and House of Artisans will preserve such crafts.
With a focus on the core skills of weaving, palm braiding, and embroidery, House of Artisans aims to offer training courses, educational workshops and other public events