• Event held in collaboration with partners Guggenheim, Royal Academy, UNESCO, The Economist Events, and Google under the theme ‘Cultural Responsibility & New Technology’

Abu Dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced details of the programme for the third edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, which is set to run from 7 to 11 April at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi.

Under the theme ‘Cultural Responsibility & New Technology’, a programme featuring panel discussions, performances, interactive workshops and network events has been crafted in collaboration with five partners representing influential sectors in the fields of arts, media, heritage, museums and technology.

This edition’s theme reflects the current zeitgeist, addressing questions of how cultural agents can be more engaged in addressing global challenges, and how creativity and technology may be harnessed for positive change.

Collaborative partners include The Economist Events, providing expertise in media and the distribution of information in global society; UNESCO, which will explore crucial issues in cultural heritage including responses to crises and conflict; the Royal Academy of Arts, responding to the Summit theme by exploring global visual culture, architecture and public art; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, exploring how museums can shape the future of culture and how can museums offer a way of exploration to see the cultural past through the lens of the present; and Google, exploring technology’s impact on arts, culture and media.

"This third edition of the Culture Summit aims to continue the great strides we have made over the last two years, partnering with esteemed global leaders in relevant fields of cultural awareness and intellectual development,” said HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at DCT Abu Dhabi. “The programme examines how the cultural forces of arts, heritage, media and technology can be used to incite tangible, positive change, in the context of our increasingly globalised and rapidly changing society.

“The Summit will cover some of the cultural sector’s most pressing issues, exploring topics that affect us all – from how we see the world around us to how we are allowed to express ourselves; from the true impact of technology on our lives to ways of safeguarding and preserving culture in times of conflict. I look forward to seeing the insights and outcomes that result from what I’m sure will be extremely productive sessions.”

A series of sessions will be moderated by the Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts, Tim Marlow, who will debate with leading artists, architects and curators issues including the legitimacy of public art, popularity vs populism and freedom of expression.

Cultural Heritage is a central theme of the Summit, and UNESCO will consider the challenges and opportunities associated with the safeguarding of cultural heritage in emergency situations, including both armed conflict and disasters, and the use of new technologies to protect heritage during emergencies and post-crisis recovery and reconstruction.

Lazare Eloundou, Director for Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO, will moderate sessions with experts and specialists on cultural heritage from the Middle East, South America and Africa including: Anne-Marie Afeiche, Director, National Museum of Beirut; Ali Ould Sidi, Adviser to Mali’s Ministry of Culture; and ALIPH Executive Director Valery Freland.

John Prideaux, US Editor at The Economist, will chair discussions on the changing face of media and the role information plays in our increasingly global society. Panels will discuss subjects such as survival techniques for traditional media in the age of technology, how the media can be a driver for change, bursting the bubble of social media, and innovations and new frontiers in the media landscape.

Participating speakers come from both traditional and new media and include Jason Leavy, Managing Director, MENA at VICE Media and Editor-in-Chief of The National Mina Al Oraibi.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation is leading discussions on the role of museums in shaping the future of culture. Moderators Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator of Asian Art and Senior Advisor, Global Arts, Guggenheim Museum; Interim Director, Curatorial Affairs, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project will be engaging speakers from Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong and Indonesia to consider questions such as how museums can activate the past in our present, how the new audiences are shaping our new museums, and how museums can most effectively and creatively embrace the digital age.

Google has partnered with Culture Summit to provide insights into digital culture and expert speakers on the role of technology in arts, heritage, and the media. The tech giant will lead workshops on topics such as Street View 360, Google Cardboard and Google News Lab. Onsite activations will include Tilt Brush, Google Daydream, and Life-Size Arts and Culture doppelganger.

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is a unique global platform that brings together leaders in arts, heritage, media, museums, public policy and technology to identify ways in which culture can play a pivotal role in raising awareness of global issues, building cultural bridges and promoting positive change. The event aims to determine an annual cultural agenda that will address the world’s pressing challenges and provide practical solutions.

For further information about Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, visit: www.CultureSummitabudhabi.com  .

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About Culture Summit Abu Dhabi:

Culture Summit is a forum that convenes leaders from the worlds of the arts, museums, heritage, media, technology, education and public policy, to identify ways that culture can raise awareness, build bridges and promote positive change. The 2018 edition was attended by 400 delegates from 90 countries.

The Summit will take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, with events and tours scheduled exclusively for participants.

About Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of the Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

About The Economist Events

The Economist Events hosts over 80 events annually across more than 30 countries on topics that convene world-class thought leaders on a range of strategic business issues. For more information visit: https://events.economist.com .

About UNESCO

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations.

About the Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts was founded by King George III in 1768. It has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded charitable institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists.  Its public programme promotes the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate.

The Royal Academy has launched a new campus as part of the celebrations of its 250th anniversary year. Following a transformative redevelopment, designed by the internationally-acclaimed architect Sir David Chipperfield RA and supported by the National Lottery, the new Royal Academy of Arts reveals more of the elements that make the RA unique – sharing with the public historic treasures from its Collection, the work of its Royal Academicians and the Royal Academy Schools, and its role as a centre for learning and debate about art and architecture – alongside its world-class exhibitions programme. Major exhibitions in recent years have included Ai Weiwei and Anselm Kiefer to Abstract Expressionism and Charles I: King and Collector.  Royalacademy.org.uk

About Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

Founded in 1937, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of art, primarily of the modern and contemporary periods, through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The Guggenheim network that began in the 1970s when the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, was joined by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, has since expanded to include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (opened 1997) and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (currently in development). The Guggenheim Foundation continues to forge international collaborations that celebrate contemporary art, architecture, and design within and beyond the walls of the museum, including the Guggenheim Social Practice Initiative, the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative, and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chinese Art Initiative. More information about the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation can be found at guggenheim.org.

About Google Inc.

Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google is a trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

For information about Google in the Middle East, please visit our Official Google Arabia Blog: http://google-arabia.blogspot.com/ 

© Press Release 2019

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