Culture forum ends on digital note
abu dhabi — The global cultural leadership forum that has attracted more than 300 participants concluded in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The CultureSummit 2017 Abu Dhabi ended with a commitment to develop a collaborative web-based platform to foster ongoing crosscultural conversation and the creation of metrics which can more accurately measure cultural impact.
“The inspiring conversations that took place over the course of the week have not only addressed important cultural topics and some of today’s most pressing challenges, but have helped build new partnerships which contribute to finding innovative ways of strengthening the role culture and new technologies can play in building societies. We look forward to seeing these being translated into policies that encourage continuous creativity and social development,” said Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairwoman, Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi & Twofour54.
“The CultureSummit 2017 is just the start of a long journey. We are committed to ensuring that we harness and protect our collective cultures for generations to come,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA) during his closing remarks.
Curated under the theme ‘Culture as a change agent in the digital age’, the panel conversations were
We set out with an ambitious goal to produce something like a Davos of Culture. But I think, in the end, we did better than that.” David Rothkopf, CEO and editor of FP Group
focused on collaboration between various disciplines; how technology can shape the future of global policy and how the arts and culture play into the changing landscape, and how cultural ties bind us all together into one global community, among many other topics and themes.
David Rothkopf, CEO and editor of FP Group said: “We set out with an ambitious goal to produce something like a Davos of Culture. But I think, in the end, thanks to our partners and each of the participants, we did better than that.
“We convened a community unlike any other, one dedicated to using their exceptional creativity to address some of the most important challenges we as a planet face. In doing so, they reminded us that culture is not a soft power, perhaps it is the greatest form of power on the planet, the power to change beliefs and move people to action.”
The CultureSummit 2017 Cultural Diplomat Award Winners were awarded at a ceremony during the event.
They included Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affair; Dr Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister
We look forward to seeing these (inspiring conversations) being translated into policies that encourage creativity and social development.” Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for FNC Affairs
of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the cultural advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State and others. reporters@khaleejtimes.com