19 November 2008 - Abu Dhabi, UAE:  Four Communications' Arts unit has been chosen to manage a wide-ranging communications programme for the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival, which runs from 21 March to 4 April 2009.

The London and Abu Dhabi-based team will provide communications strategy and media relations support in the run-up to the festival, which is now in its sixth year.

Rachel Clarke, head of Four's Arts unit, said:

"Abu Dhabi is consolidating its position as a global centre for culture and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival is a key element of this.  It's a fantastic project and we're really excited by the programme for 2009."

The Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and is the region's foremost cultural event, attracting world-class artists from across the globe.

Next year's Festival will begin with a gala performance on Saturday 21 March and will run for two weeks, finishing on Saturday 4 April.  Tickets are set to go on sale on 25 January 2009, with full details of performers announced at that time. 

H. E. Mrs Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, said:

"The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival is now well-established as one of the highlights of the Gulf's cultural calendar, and we are delighted to be able to welcome the world's greatest living artists to Abu Dhabi for a sixth year.  Next year, our line up of artists will be world-class - it's our most inspiring schedule yet.

"It is really important that we communicate effectively the aims and objectives of our events in 2009 and our choice of communications partner was critical.  The Four team, in London and Abu Dhabi, has shown a great enthusiasm for and commitment to the Festival."

The 6th Festival is set to build on the incredible success of 2008's event, which saw more than 9,000 people attend a schedule of performances ranging from ballet to Arabian and Western contemporary classical music.  The Visual Arts Exhibition was also incorporated into the festival for the first time.  Following the success of the exhibitions, workshops and educational programs held in venues across the city, the contribution of the visual arts is to be expanded in 2009. 

With 35 public performances and events,  the 5th Festival saw 2,150 tickets sold to the 10 major events , with many fully sold-out, and the Festival's organisers anticipate an even stronger demand for 2009's enlarged programme.  507 visiting artists and support staff made their way to Abu Dhabi for the last Festival, responsible for over 2,100 nights booked in local hotels.

Would-be concertgoers and exhibition visitors can register at the Festival site (http://www.admafestival.com) to receive further information as it is announced.

The Festival is an integral part of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation's efforts to complement Abu Dhabi's cultural vision by setting the highest standards for social responsibility, and advancing the arts, education, culture and creativity in the Emirate. 

-Ends-

About Four Communications
Four Communications Group plc was established in 2001 and is one of the fastest-growing independent communications agencies in the UK and the Gulf.  It has more than 140 staff operating from offices in London, Liverpool, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Four Communications is a fully integrated agency, offering public relations, public affairs, sports and arts sponsorship, design, advertising, corporate publishing, events, marketing, digital campaigns, and media planning and buying.

The company's Dubai office opened in 2004 and its Abu Dhabi office in 2007.  Clients in the Gulf include Etihad Airways, Nakheel, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Omran, Bahrain Logistics Zone, Island Global Yachting, Hard Rock Hotels and Cirque du Soleil. 

Four Communications' Arts unit advises major companies and organisations on their cultural sponsorship programmes as well as offering expertise to cultural organisations looking for sponsorship themselves.  The unit boasts an international client list from Europe, the Middle East and China.

About ADMAF:
The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) was established in 1996 as a non-profit organisation based on benevolent work.  It aims to complement Abu Dhabi's cultural vision, setting the highest standard for social responsibility institutes.  ADMAF advances the arts, education, culture and creativity in the Emirate.

ADMAF serves under the Presidency and Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research.  The organisation established the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival in 2004.

Other achievements include the creation of the Abu Dhabi Young Press Leaders program in 2008 to encourage the direct involvement of young nationals in the Emirate's journalism, the Language of the Desert Exhibition featuring contemporary Gulf Arab artists, the bi-annual International Comic Strip & Cartoon Art Festival, among many other cultural endeavours.

As part of its Educational Mission, ADMAF also organises and sponsors a number of high profile awards in the UAE: the Annual Creativity Award (established 1999), the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival Award (established 2004) and the Comic Strips and Cartoon Art Festival Award (2007).

For more information:
Rachel Clarke
Head of Arts
Four Communications (UK)
Tel: +44 870 444 4568
Email: rachel.clarke@fourcommunications.com

Luke Alexander
Account manager
Four Communications (Abu Dhabi)
Tel: +971 55 985 3382
Email: luke.alexander@fourcommunications.com

© Press Release 2008