UAE and Smithsonian strengthen bonds and build on prestigious ties with landmark deal
The UAE has signed a landmark collaborative deal with the Smithsonian Institution that will boost the country’s rapidly developing art scene.
UAE museum directors, curators, archivists and researchers will work with their peers at the Smithsonian in Washington DC to co-host events, carry out research, develop partnerships and publish academic articles.
Training, internships and fellowships will also be provided.
“The UAE’s museum and cultural sector is growing at a rapid pace and new efforts are also under way to preserve the country’s heritage and discover new knowledge,” said Yousef Al Otaiba, Minister and UAE Ambassador to the US, who signed the agreement with Smithsonian secretary David Skorton.
“No other organisation has the experience or breadth of expertise that the Smithsonian has and we are thrilled to help launch this new initiative.”
The development of new science, technology, engineering and maths progammes here using Smithsonian curriculums and resources are also included in the agreement.
The UAE and Smithsonian have a long history of collaboration in research, conservation and arts.
Last year, researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute worked with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi to reintroduce a herd of scimitar-horned oryx. The species had been extinct in the wild since the mid-1980s.
Smithsonian conservationists, researchers and curators have also exchanged information on training and museum development with cultural organisations here. This includes recent briefings with Zayed National Museum, which will be built on Saadiyat Island.
“This agreement creates new opportunities for the Smithsonian and the UAE Embassy to partner on a variety of initiatives, events and other programmes,” Mr Skorton said.
With the opening of worldclass museums, such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, the UAE has become a centre for the arts in the Middle East.
“Art connects people across borders and cultures,” Mr Al Otaiba said. “Through this agreement, we will be able to showcase rising stars from the UAE in the United States.”
The Smithsonian was founded in 1846 and consists of 19 museums, the National Zoological Park and nine research centres. There were 30 million visits to the Smithsonian last year.