Abu Dhabi Festival Extends Spirit Of ’Bilad Al Khayr’ With Extensive Community Programme
The 10th edition of The Abu Dhabi Festival, which runs from 3 March – 31 April 2013, will extend its once again reach across the wider community with celebration the traditional spirit of ‘Bilad Al Khayr’, the ‘Land of Blessings’. The programme includes a diverse range of community-focused activities across the seven Emirates, from innovative musical performances, drama activities and lectures to hands-on interactive workshops that will embed the arts and music in grassroots communities across the Nation, by inspiring those who wish to not only learn, but experience a diversity of cultural heritage.
An integral part of the festival since 2009, the Abu Dhabi Festival Community Programme aims to build and strengthen ties amongst disparate groups in society by reaching out to otherwise isolated or underprivileged audiences. Highlights of the programme include the 9th Emirates International Peace Music Festival, Resuscitation Theatre’s ‘Al Malik’ - an Emirati adaptation of a classic Shakespearian play, Story Mile - an exhibition of new Emirati tales and historical and a range of storytelling, poetry, art and music workshops and Bil Arabi – a night of poetry, music and song.
Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, Her Excellency Mrs Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, said: “As a core component of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the Community programme actively embraces and celebrates the diversity of cultures reflected in our multicultural society. This element of the programme has always been at the heart of the Festival and this year’s line-up is no exception as it aims to explore the arts in all its facets – music, drama, spoken word and traditional arts of the Emirates. As we celebrate a decade of discovery, we reawaken the traditional heritage of the UAE and simultaneously inspire and encourage innovative forms of artistic expression.”
Jalal’s Art Trip ‘Urban Trek’ Exhibition will get the community programme off to a rousing start with an exhibition of works by various artists capturing the beauty that is found in the most unexpected places. Conceived by accomplished Emirati artist Jalal Luqman, Urban Trek took participating artists on an adventure through the oldest neighborhoods of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The exhibition will be held at Ghaf Gallery from 6th- 16th March.
In a special tribute to poetry and the spoken word traditions of the Arab world, the programme includes ‘Bil Arabi’, a magical blend of poetry and music recited by the acclaimed UAE actor and playwright Dr. Habib Ghuloom Al Attar, accompanied by Iraqi oudist Khalid Saleh, Syrian vocalist Samar Naser and visual artist Shaima’a Al Mugheari from Oman. The enlightening production will tour Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi Madinat Zayed/Gharbia and Al Ain at various dates throughout March.
Reviving and sustaining the love for storytelling, an Emirati tradition for generations, will be reinforced through Story Mile, a unique outdoor exhibition of new Emirati tales and historical characters that builds upon the rich oral traditions of the UAE. The inspiring content was developed through workshops and research by Zayed University students, as well as members of its Al Kharareef (Storytelling) Club, and led by master storyteller Abdul Aziz Al Musallam. Innovative light boxes with each story will be placed along the Abu Dhabi Corniche from the 10th – 29th March.
Extending the focus on the art of storytelling, Abu Dhabi Festival will host World Storytelling Day on the 20th of March at Heritage Village. An incredible storytelling experience, this all-day event is organised by the Zayed University ‘Al Kharareef’ (Storytelling) group and will bring together children from between 7 and 11 years old as they share the tales told to them by elders.
Following on from last year’s inaugural success and further demonstrating Abu Dhabi Festival’s commitment to nurturing new form of artistic expression is Resuscitation Theatre’s ‘Al Malik’, an Emirati flavoured adaptation ofShakespeare’s Cymbeline. Presented by the Abu Dhabi National Theatre, in collaboration with Emirates Writers’ Union, the production will draw on actors and performers from the local community and marks the second year of participation by innovative theatre group in the festival’s community program.
Extending Abu Dhabi Festival’s mission to demonstrate its commitment to children with special needs is ARTastic!, a carefully tailored series of visual arts therapy workshops for children and adults with multiple disabilities that help to build self-confidence, social interaction, motor skills, as well as highlighting key techniques for teachers and careers. The touring workshops will be visiting Madinat Zayed, ZHO Ghayathi, Ajman Special Needs Centre, and RAK Special Needs Centre. Continuing this commitment, the arts based workshops ‘Let’s Make Art at Dar Al Ber’ returns to the Festival for a second year. Led by Emirati artists at Dar Al Ber orphanage in Dubai, children will be encouraged to explore their creativity and develop their cultural identity.
For the third year running, ADMAF has supported the Emirates International Peace Music Festival. Touring the emirates again in 2013 the 9th International Peace Music Festival is an orchestral performance led by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Premiere Music College of Prague to inspire the younger generation about the wonders of music. The performance will feature soloists including the Korean National Ensemble and winners of the 2013 GCC Emirates International Peace Music Festival Competition. The orchestra will perform in a series of unique performances across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah,
Exploring the healing power of arts, Abu Dhabi Festival and partners the Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine Institute will visit a number of hospitals across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in a series entitled Music in Hospitals. Research has shown that incorporating the power of music in medicine can encourage a faster and more therapeutic recovery. This tour, part of ADMAF’s year round Arts & Health programme, brings together a group of talented amateur and professional musicians to play for patients ,including musicians from House of Arts and Beit Al Oud, as well as the Festival’s main programme
For the third consecutive year, on Saturday 23rd of March, Abu Dhabi Festival in collaboration with EWS-WWF will support ‘Earth Hour’, a global initiative utilising the power of the arts as a call to action to raise awareness about energy saving.
With the Festival’s exploration of new ways to heighten community involvement within the arts, ADF 2013 is bringing three exciting new programmes: Words of Wisdom, a Nabati poetry initiative led by Mohamed Al Buraiki and performed at day-care centre across the UAE will use art as a positive impact on older people; UAE in Colour is a series of visual art workshops for schoolchildren that utilises the landscapes and skylines of the UAE as a form of creative expression; and finally in an extension of the partnership formed with Alliance Francaise, ADF 2013 will showcase a recorded screening of the Opera National de Paris production of the renowned French masterpiece ‘Carmen.’
For further information about the Abu Dhabi Festival Community Programme and to find out how you can get involved, please visit www.abudhabifestival.ae
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Date: Feb 28, 2013
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