British Council announces autumn programme for the UK/UAE 2017

The British Council today announced the performances and events which will form the autumn season of the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration. The announcement was made at a gathering hosted jointly with the British Council’s strategic partner, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, at the ministry headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The event was attended by Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Philip Parham, British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and many of the UK/UAE 2017 partners from around the country.

Noura Al Kaabi, remarked that the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration makes a positive contribution to strengthening the relationship between the two countries in the fields of culture and knowledge development. She reiterated that the practice of cultural exchange through exploration of British culture and showcasing the UAE’s culture and artistic development, ultimately contributes to the widespread promotion of Emirati culture internationally.

Al Kaabi said, "We are delighted to announce the Autumn Programme of the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration organised by the British Council under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. 

"This creative collaboration celebrates the long-standing relationship between our two countries and aims to strengthen and develop existing relationships across various cultural fields."

She continued, "Distinguished guests, the importance of this relationship stems from the enthusiasm of both countries' leaders to support and activate cooperation in a wide-range of cultural sectors to ensure we meet government objectives and achieve common goals.

"It goes without saying that this Year of Creative Collaboration has had an extremely positively impact on developing and promoting the relationship between both countries in different areas of culture and knowledge."

"Gaining greater insight into the British cultural scene has inspired us, and highlighted the significant ways in which we can further develop the UAE cultural and art sectors. We hope, likewise, that the UAE growing cultural scene has also impacted our British friends," she added.

Al Kaabi thanked all the attendees for their interest and presence at the press conference and stressed that the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration’s programme will provide an opportunity to learn more about the UK’s deeply rooted culture. She also called on the different cultural entities participating in the season’s programme to work together to best represent the cultural and historical richness of both countries.

Philip Parham, UK Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, commented, "The ties between the UK and the UAE run deep, but these bonds are even more dynamic and creative today. The Year of Creative Collaboration is a chance to reinforce and build on this for the future, as we grow together and further strengthen the connections between our people, businesses and institutions."

"The spring season saw more than 140 events and 90 film screenings take place across the country, involving more than 88,000 people. More than 40 partner organisations from the UK and the UAE came together to conceive and shape those projects. We saw throughout the season how creative expression can inspire people to imagine, develop and shape the societies of tomorrow."

Gavin Anderson, Director UAE, British Council said, "UK/UAE 2017 was established to celebrate our two countries’ historically close relationship, and the current lively state of cultural and economic exchange. This is exactly what was achieved with the spring season, and we look forward to further highlighting our strong ties and exploring new ways to collaborate and grow together in this next phase of the programme."

UK/UAE 2017, which is organised by the British Council under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, is a cultural exchange programme between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates which celebrates the longstanding relationship between the two countries and looks to strengthen existing cultural and economic ties. The season is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and the British Embassy in the UAE as strategic partners.

The UK/UAE 2017 autumn programme will continue to explore the themes of community, inclusion and the next generation, in line with UAE Vision 2021. Throughout the year, the British Council is working with almost 100 British and Emirati partners, strengthening existing relationships and entering into new collaborations. Top UK institutions and creative practitioners are working with their UAE counterparts, showcasing British and Emirati talent to engage and inspire audiences across the UAE.

Speaking about the programme's efforts, Hannah Henderson, Head of UK/UAE 2017 at the British Council, said that some of the featured programmes has reached people in UAE society that do not necessarily have access to some of the venues in the main cities, and that the council is working with partners all across the country to ensure the events reach local communities there. "For example, we have taken some our film festivals to Umm Al Qaiwain, which is one of the smaller emirates. So, instead of expecting people to travel large distances to come to Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Sharjah, we are making sure we take activities to all seven emirates," she said.

Henderson said that the programmes do not only highlight artistic elements but also focused on raising awareness and education on various different topics, with one main theme being inclusion, and introducing ways to include disabled people into the work field.

'Embrace', a performance by Deaf Men Dancing, a British dance company consisting of all-male, professional deaf dancers, will take place on November 6th and the performance will be coupled with workshops with Sharjah Mime, a group of hearing impaired mime performers in the UAE.

"Were bringing Sharjah Mime and Deaf Men Dancing together for two days of dedicated workshops. So they'll get an in-depth experience of working together, create work together, and then they will perform that for public audiences at the piazza at Dubai Opera, which will give the community an opportunity to interact with it," Henderson said.

"We have really try to look within our programming to engage different audiences in the community," she added.