Dubai Culture forms an Advisory Committee for Performing Arts

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority announces the formation of a specialised advisory committee for the performing arts industry in Dubai. The committee will provide support to the associations of folklore and theatres in the Emirate, in order to produce the most prominent outputs of theatrical creativity and provide a strong base from which the theatre industry can develop.

The formation of the committee will enhance the contribution of theatre towards the creative economy and will ensure the sustainability of the development of the Emirate in line with Dubai's new cultural vision, which aims to make the city a global centre of culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talent.

Charged with taking care of all affairs concerned with the development of the theatrical sector, Dubai Performing Arts Advisory Committee comprises a competent and qualified team. Hakam Al Hashemi, Acting CEO of Dubai Culture’s Arts and Literature sector has been appointed Chairman of the committee with the participation of a group of established artists and creators including: Dr. Habib Ghuloom; Mohammed Al Salti; Samira Ahmed; Walid Al Jallaf; Khalifa Al Bahri; and Ahmed Al Shamsi.

The role of committee is to achieve several objectives, most notably to contribute towards the promotion and development of talent through incubators as well as encouraging proposals that will contribute towards the positive development of performing arts. Overall, the committee will support the sustainable development of the performing arts industry and contribute to the promotion of the values ​​of performing arts in government and private sectors. By actively encouraging investment in performing arts and strengthening strategic cooperation with cultural and art organizations concerned with the performing arts both nationally and internationally, the committee will contribute towards positioning UAE theatre on the global art map.

The committee will act as a communication channel between the various institutions involved in the performing arts and the theatre sectors as well as working on a 10-year plan titled: “Future Theatre Map”. This plan will include proposed accelerators focused on activities needed by the community and will prepare a study to assess the current status of the theater sector in the Emirate of Dubai as well as making future development recommendations.

The theaters and folklore societies supported by the newly appointed committee include: Dubai Folklore Society, Association of Folklore and Rowing Dubai, Ayal Nasser Society for Arts andTraditional Heritage Dubai, Al Ahli Dubai Theater and Dubai Folklore Theatre. 

Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, stressed the importance of the role of theatre in shaping the culture and awareness of community members, pointing to the need to discover, support and embrace promising acting talents. She also underlined the contribution of theatre towards the development of the creative economy, stressing that the implementation of the advisory committee towards the output of theatrical creativity will make a qualitative leap for this traditional art.

She said: "We are seriously seeking to restore the glow and sparkle of the theatre industry and achieve its desired future. By witnessing the formation of an advisory committee to take charge of its affairs, consisting of the most prominent industry leaders and creators, we are confident this will result in a wide range of visions leading to the promotion of theatrical performance across the country and the region. Furthermore, this will activate the creative sector and boost the creative economy, in line with the objectives of sustaining Dubai’s position as a global centre of culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talents.”

Badri pointed out that the support of Dubai Culture to theatre and folklore associations in the emirate will also attract and encourage new creative energies, as well as creating an environment that promotes young talents. “This paves the way for further development of the creative industries, which will have the largest effect on the public and maximise the impact of the theatrical associations in Dubai.”