Culture Summit Abu Dhabi announces its programme of eminent speakers
The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, which returns for a fourth year, this time in an online format that is open to the public for the first time, has announced its programme. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, under the theme “culture economy and the economy of culture”, the summit will look at the challenges and opportunities of developing adaptable, resilient and collaborative creative ecosystems.
It will also highlight the socioeconomic benefits that vibrant cultural and creative industries around the world deliver, with a focus on knowledge exchange and policy development.
The three-day programme will run from next Monday to Wednesday. Audrey Azoulay, director general of Unesco, will give the opening address. Throughout the summit, other keynote addresses will be made by Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, British architect Sir David Chipperfield, American singersongwriter Charlie Puth, British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, Cameroonian philosopher and political scientist Achille Mbembe and Hungarian sociologist Andras Szantos.
Discussions will explore post-Covid sector recovery and transformation, envisioning a new system that is more adaptable in the future. Also to be discussed is how the creative economy can advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education, economy, innovation and infrastructure, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable cities.
Other panel discussions will bring together a number of high-profile speakers, including Richard Armstrong, director of Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation and Museum; Tim Marlow, chief executiveof the Design Museum; Laurent Gaveau, head of Google Arts & Culture Lab; Roger Brown, president of Berklee College of Music; Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi of Sharjah Art Foundation; British stage designer Es Devlin; and vegan activist Earthling Ed, among many others.
There will also be case study presentations from institutions such as Google Arts & Culture Lab, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture and Unesco Working Group LiBeirut. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s director Manuel Rabate will discuss the museum’s challenges and opportunities.
Local and international artists will give talks, including Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi, jeweller Azza Al Qubaisi, and Zuhoor Al Sayegh and Hashel Al Lamki of Bait 15. Elsewhere, Lebanese artist Rayyane Tabet will be in conversation with Sasha Kalter-Wasserman of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project.
Similar to previous years, the summit will feature a number of performances by international artists, including a screening of work by contemporary Lebanese artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan. Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma, Beninese-American singersongwriter Angelique Kidjo and Moroccan singer-songwriter Oumwill also perform.
“The Culture Summit is ambitious in its goal to produce innovative, globally impactful propositions by connecting cultural leaders with key voices from diverse yet related fields,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT – Abu Dhabi. “We will amplify that impact even further this year, through our first virtual and public edition.” Attendance is free with registration at www.culture summitabudhabi.com