The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi returns for the fourth year in an online format that is for the first time open to the public, exploring the theme of the Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the summit will bring global experts in the fields of design, heritage, media, public policy, technology and business for a series of speeches, panel discussions, case studies, artist talks and performances.
“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, and we will amplify that impact even further this year, through our first virtual and public edition," said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT – Abu Dhabi, in a statement.
“In a time when the viability of these industries and their practitioners have been particularly affected by current global events, Culture Summit’s discussions will be vital ones, that must result in concrete outcomes. To this end, we are incredibly proud to see Abu Dhabi serve as a platform that brings together this calibre of participants, alongside our esteemed partners,” he added.
The programme will explore the challenges and opportunities of developing adaptable, resilient and collaborative creative ecosystems, and the socioeconomic benefits that vibrant cultural and creative industries around the world deliver, with a focus on knowledge exchange and policy development.
This will all be explored over the three-day programme that will run from Monday to Wednesday, March 8 to 10.
Here are some highlights from this year's Culture Summit programme:
Speeches and conversations
Following welcoming remarks by Al Mubarak, Audrey Azoulay, Unesco's director general, will give the opening address. Throughout the summit, other keynote addresses will be made by UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, architect Sir David Chipperfield, American singer and songwriter Charlie Puth, British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, philosopher and political scientist Achille Mbembe and sociologist Andras Szantos.
Panel discussions
Discussions will explore the 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 and communities.
These 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 executive and director of the Design Museum; Laurent Gaveau, head of Google Arts & Culture Lab; Roger Brown, president of Berklee College of Music; Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi; British artist and designer Es Devlin; and vegan speaker and activist Earthling Ed, among many others.
Case studies
The programme will also include case study presentations from institutions such as Google Arts & Culture Lab, presented by Lab project manager Marylene Ricci; the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, presented by its executive director Rima Mismar; as well as from Lebanon's Sarkis Khoury from the Ministry of Culture; and Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi of Unesco's Working Group LiBeirut, who will be talking about the post-disaster rehabilitation.
Louvre Abu Dhabi's director Manuel Rabate will also discuss the museum's challenges and opportunities.
Artist talks
Local and international artists will also give talks. This includes Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi, jeweller Azza Al Qubaisi, and Zuhoor Al Sayegh and Hashel Al Lamki of Bait 15. Lebanese artist Rayyane Tabet will also be conversation with Sasha Kalter-Wasserman of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project.
Performances
Similar to previous years, the summit will feature a number of performances by international artists, including a screening of work by contemporary artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan, which will be followed by a conversation with Jessica Cerasi, assistant curator at the Guggenheim Museum.
Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma, Beninese-American singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo, Moroccan singer-songwriter Oum and Tunisian musician Ghalia Benali will also perform.
Attendance is free and open to the public. Registration is live on the Culture Summit website
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Company%20profile
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Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
