AL-AIN: H.H Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, opened today the Al-Qattara Arts Centre in the City of Al Ain. The centre is located in an old historic fort in the Al-Qattara Oasis that has been restored, designed and funded entirely by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, the Chairman of (ADACH) . It was also attended by the Advisor for Culture and Heritage in the Court of His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Director General of ADACH, Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei. Dr. Sami el Masri, the Deputy Director-General for Arts, Culture and Heritage at ADACH, was also present.

The Al-Qattara Arts Center will have an extensive arts and culture program, defined by placing strong emphasis on local and Arab art, UAE heritage and culture. The Center has the most advanced facilities for studying and improving art skills. With excellent classrooms, including a dry studio for a variety of activities such as music classes and art crafting, a wet studio for drawing and painting, a fully-equipped pottery studio, a digital room suitable for photography and computer classes, a spacious calligraphy studio as well as an exhibition hall, cafe and library.

On this occasion, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan opened the first art exhibition at the Al-Qattara Centre named "4 Decades" a visual arts exhibition celebrating 28 Emirati artists who began their artistic career from the1970s up to the present day. The bringing together of all these different periods, represents a historic feat in its own right, never before has such an initiative been undertaken, which makes "4 Decades worthy of note. The goal behind this collective that showcases Emirati art-making is to stress a natural evolution, with a sequential order and unity in the artworks on display as each according to its own aesthetic, hovers over the same theme: UAE identity.

"WOMAD Beyond" is the first event at the Al Qattara Arts Center starting on 30th March until 6th April. This is a program that will see international artists presenting a variety of arts from the world of music, art and dance, which is a highly attended event that is organized by ADACH each year.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan said that the main challenge that is being faced today is the maintenance of a balance between heritage and modernity. The Al-Qattara Centre is meeting this challenge and is serving the community and wider UAE, thanks to its diverse artistic programmes, careful restoration of the fort and state of the art facilities.

"Al Ain is an ideal platform from which to introduce these remarkable achievements, which play such a key role in our heritage and ancient civilization. The exhibition is also an integral part of the framework of the revitalization of the oases of Al Ain. This new development promotes a key historical site and underlines the importance of the development of culture and tourism in the region, whilst carefully restoring the heritage of Abu Dhabi." added Sheikh Sultan.

Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei praised the large number of important cultural projects that are being implemented by ADACH in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. These projects form an important part of the regions strategy to achieve a balance between the preservation of culture and heritage, and the desire to keep up with the modern rapid pace of development.

He emphasized that the city of Al Ain is witnessing a huge shift in the cultural movement of the region, such as the restoration of the Al Jahili Fort.

"Projects such as this have been transforming the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into a bright cultural oasis, the opening of Al Jahili Fort is a prime example of a project that is highly commended and has been open to the public since December 2008 and is now a critical venue for major events and exhibitions." said Al Mazrouei.

He stressed that the wider UAE community has an effective and influential role to play in the cultural landscape of Al Ain, and it does this through the organization of diverse artistic and cultural activities. He praised the fact that the eleventh session of the Al Ain Classical Music Festival was hosted at Al Jahili. Festivals and exhibitions such as these help to promote ADACHs aim to build bridges between cultures, by hosting distinguished events that combine Arabic and Western musical traditions and performing arts.

ADACH also launched the Al Ain Centre for Music in the World of Islam, events have already been held with the objective of conducting, promoting and adopting research in the field of music. The aim is to develop an important and effective outreach programme that will promote an understanding and appreciation of music on both a local and global level.

Dr Sami el-Masri, the Deputy Director-General for the Arts, Culture and Heritage and Director of the Strategic Planning and Development Department at ADACH, said that the establishment of the Al-Qattara Arts Centre underlines the primary interest that ADACH takes in culture and heritage. Our aim is to highlight the creative capabilities of the UAE community and help to develop and nurture the talent that is held here, giving it a voice and purpose.

"The Al Qattara Arts Centre represents ADACHs continued efforts to implement a policy of supporting Emirati, Arabic and Islamic arts in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the region" said Dr Masri.

He pointed out that the launch of the Al-Qattara Arts Centre follows in the wake of the great success of the exhibition of the Emirati artist Hassan Sharif. This exhibition was entitled "Experiments & Objects, 1979 2011". It was opened by ADACH on March 17 and will continue until 17 June, 2011 at Qasr Al Hosn, Cultural Quarter Hall, in Abu Dhabi. It is the first major monograph exhibition of its kind for one of the most established contemporary artists of the UAE.

There are also efforts currently under way to restore and revitalize traditional industry markets in the Al-Qattara Oasis. Handmade and traditional products will be displayed in the city of Al Ain, and there will be demonstrations to show how these products are made. This project forms part of ADACH's strategy to maintain the cultural heritage of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and protect it from dying out.

Al Ain has witnessed a large campaign for the restoration of historic buildings across the city, as a result of ADACHs vast portfolio of work. Key archaeological sites in Al Ain are being promoted through exhibitions such as "The Dawn of History: Revealing the Ancient Past of Abu Dhabi" where a large number of visitors and tourists have already visited and commented on this impressive exhibition. These are just a few of the initiatives that are being organized to ensure activities are developed across a wide cultural platform in the region.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.