Dubai Culture Hosts Disability Access Talk as Part of UK/UAE 2017 a Year of Creative Collaboration

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, recently hosted a specialised talk in collaboration with the British Council at the Etihad Museum as part of its support for UK/UAE 2017 a Year of Creative Collaboration. The talk – ‘Disability Access in the Museum Environment’ – was open to the public for free and presented by Marcus Dickey Horley, Curator of Public Programmes at Tate.

Dubai Culture is a strategic partner of the Year of Creative Collaboration, which is led by the British Council and held under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. With a rich programme spanning the arts, literature, education, society, sport, science and trade, UK/UAE 2017 explores the themes of community, inclusion and the next generation, in line with the UAE Vision 2021. Throughout the year, the British Council will work with a wide range of British and Emirati partners, strengthening existing relationships and creating new collaborations. Top UK institutions and creative practitioners will partner with their UAE counterparts, showcasing British and Emirati talent to engage and inspire audiences across the UAE.  

The talk focused on the value of embedding a commitment to disability access in museum culture, and saw Marcus Dickey Horley sharing examples of leading events that he has created for a wide range of disabled visitors with sensory, mobility and learning disabilities.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, commented: “Etihad Museum is fully accessible for people with disabilities and we are continuing our work to develop our facilities to the very highest international standards. Marcus Dickey Horley’s talk was an important contribution to our comprehensive staff training programme, which aims to ensure that the museum is a truly welcoming and immersive destination for visitors from all walks of life, including those with disabilities. The talk was open to the public, including professionals from across the UAE and all Dubai Culture staff, which demonstrates our commitment to raising awareness of this important aspect of modern museum culture. It was also organised as part of the Authority’s ongoing support of the UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration, which has seen us developing and delivering a unique cultural programme which strengthens existing relationships and creates new ones between people, institutions and businesses.”

As Curator of Public Programmes at Tate – a collection of four galleries that attract over eight million visitors a year across three major cities in the UK – Marcus Dickey Horley is responsible for creating and delivering events to engage deaf, diverse and disabled people with the Tate collection displays and exhibitions. He was part of the original management team that put together the procedures for Tate Modern’s Visitor Experience team when it opened in 2000, and has since been expanding Tate’s offering for disabled visitors through collaborative research and the sharing of information with other institutions worldwide.

Saeed al Naboudah added: “Etihad Museum is a 21st century museum and national landmark that we want everybody to enjoy and appreciate, so our aim is to make it as inclusive as possible. As we realise the importance of the museum's role as an educational centre that serves the community and academic institutions, we have encouraged the highest possible level of participation from the community to address this important topic.”

Gavin Anderson, Country Director, British Council UAE added ‘We are delighted to be partnering with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Tate to support exchange of expertise and innovation within the museum environment. With inclusivity at its heart, the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration aims to make a lasting difference to all the communities it reaches. We are proud to collaborate on this initiative which will enable efforts to ensure culture is accessible and inclusive to all”.

Marcus Dickey Horley’s visit followed two design talks that took place at the Etihad Museum on 15th March as part of Dubai Culture’s UK/UAE 2017 a Year of Creative Collaboration ‘Britain Takes Shape’ initiative. The design talks encouraged dynamic exchange between the UAE and the UK – two of the world’s leading cultural lights – while also furthering Dubai’s reputation as a thriving cultural destination that attracts global talent, resources and visitors. They were highlights of the sixth edition of Design Days Dubai, which is a key event of the two-month Dubai Art Season – the annual umbrella event on the Dubai cultural and creative calendar that highlights the city's global credentials on the arts scene and brings together artists from around the world for an unmatched celebration of talent, creativity, innovation and cultural diversity.