Abu Dhabi: A group of 20 young Emiratis and 12 UAE-based professionals have begun a two-year cultural programme that seeks to inspire the next generation of UAE creative entrepreneurs and cultural leaders.
The move comes as part of a partnership between the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (Admaf) and the British Council’s joint Cultural Excellence Fellowship (CEF) in association with Mubadala.
The programme is seen as a long-term initiative and hopes to make a significant contribution to the shaping of the cultural and creative industries towards 2030, bringing together young Emirati proteges, UAE-based and regional professional pioneers, and British cultural experts to share skills, knowledge and experience through mentoring, cross-discipline exchange and workshops.
The programme, which is the first of its kind in the UAE, has been developed based upon the findings of a needs assessment of the UAE’s cultural and creative industries. The resulting skills development and mentorship programme is co-owned and co-designed by the British Council and Admaf as part of a strategic partnership that was signed by both parties in 2012.
The group of Emiratis consists of talented undergraduates and exceptional young talents who have established a profile beyond the academic environment through activities in the cultural sector. Participants will each be allocated a mentor from a distinguished pool of pioneers. Selected participants will become ambassadors for the programme and receive regular invitations to key events and initiatives by the British Council and Admaf.
The initiative aims to develop a successful structured mentorship framework that will advance individuals in their professional careers, while establishing an important network of creative experts across the UAE.
Discussing the programme, Huda Al Khamis Kanoo, founder of Admaf, said: “This is an ambitious new chapter in Admaf’s relationship with the British Council, a valued strategic partner. The Cultural Excellence Fellowship is a long-term initiative that seeks to make a significant contribution to the shaping of the country’s cultural scene. I believe the programme will foster entrepreneurialism among Emirati youth as well as elevate the creativity of the UAE, nationally and internationally.”
Marc Jessel, Country Director, British Council-UAE said: “We have been promoting cultural relations between the UK and UAE for the last 46 years. Our aim has always been to bring the UK and the UAE closer together through the arts and to develop the creative economy in the UAE through capacity building initiatives. We value our partnership with Admaf and believe we can achieve a lot by sharing our collective experience. Through the Cultural Excellence Fellowship programme in partnership with Admaf we hope to bring together the best of the emerging talent of the Emirati cultural and creative industries, with established cultural leaders from the UK, the UAE and beyond to make a contribution to the fast evolving UAE cultural sector.”
With the help of international strategic partners including those in the UK, Admaf today reaches 40,000 people across the UAE with groundbreaking initiatives that support civil society and meaningful programmes that are broadening the ambitions and skills of Emirati youth.
