Abu Dhabi, Mar 13th, 2011 (WAM) -- Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Festival 2011 puts education at its heart.
A programme of education-driven activities is set to support and inspire the creativity and imagination of inquisitive minds across the United Arab Emirates. Building on the year-round programme of Festival organisers, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, thousands of children and young people will benefit from the workshops, music symposiums, lectures and performances scheduled to take place between 19th March and 4th April in locations across the country. In 2010, more than 250 schools participated in the Abu Dhabi Festival, with thousands of children and students of all ages engaging in the diverse schedule of events. This yearpromises to be no different, with more schools than ever participating. Highlights of the 2011 Abu Dhabi Festival education programme will include school visits and workshops by visiting cultural icons who are sure to inspire with their unique talents. Exciting new additions to the programme this year include the Playing Shakespeare Project from Shakespeare's Globe Company, Carnegie Hall's Ensemble ACJW and the Big Bang sciencemeets- theatre performances and workshop programme. Returning to the Festival for the fourth year is the ever popular Matthew Barley and his music ensemble Between the Notes who will participate in workshop sessions in a number of different schools in addition to supporting Young Artists' Day. Held for the first time in 2010, the Festival Debates series will return for a second year. "Providing new opportunities for people to engage with the arts and culture is the single most important aspect of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Our ability to inspire and open new minds to the wonders of the arts will be our lasting legacy. As the Late Sheikh Zayed was aware, an educated and enlightened people are a country's greatest asset. We remain committed to finding new and exciting ways for people across the United Arab Emirates to be involved in the Abu Dhabi Festival and to inspire the cultural leaders of tomorrow. Our education programme will provide intellectual nourishment and expose everyone to new ideas, to new cultures and to new experiences," explained Hoda Ibrahim Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival. An ever-popular feature of the education programme, the classroom workshop series will continue to bring world-class talents to the classroom in 2011. With some of the world's most respected international artists, visiting Abu Dhabi for the Festival's main programme, the series will take talent to the classroom with mini-performances, workshops and masterclasses. Festival in Focus will provide open rehearsals at the Emirates Palace auditorium that will offer schools a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Festival's headline acts. Giving children the opportunity to participate in learning about the wonderful creative freedoms of music, performance and the arts will be a series of in-school workshops led by cellist and groundbreaking educator Matthew Barley and his music ensemble Between The Notes. Returning to the Festival in 2011, Matthew and the ensemble will bring a diverse background of musical heritage from across global cultures alive through their interactive workshops. The workshops will lead to the final performance of an original piece of music composition on Young Artists' Day, Saturday 26th March at the Emirates Palace. The original composition inspired by the traditional songs and music of the UAE's fishermen will be written and developed by gifted young musicians from The Abu Dhabi Festival Youth Ensemble New to the Festival in 2011 is the science-meets-theatre performances and workshops, The Big Bang.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
