ANNUAL REPORT ABU DHABI MUSIC & ARTS FOUNDATION Empowering the Nation January - December 2018 ADMAF Patron H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan UAE Minister of Tolerance ADMAF Patron H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan UAE Minister of Tolerance ADMAF Honorary Patron H.H. Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan ADMAF Honorary Patron H.H. Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation P.O. Box 47488, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates T: +971 2 333 6400 F: +971 2 641 1055 E: [email protected] W: www.admaf.org Abu Dhabi Music ADMAFsocial & Arts Foundation @ADMAFsocial ADMAF96 6 7 ADMAF Founder H.E. Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo ADMAF Board Members H.E. Noura Al Kaabi H.E. Razan Al Mubarak ADMAF Advisors H.E. Khaldoon Al Mubarak H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh H.E. Reem Al Shemari Sheikha Noor Fahim Al Qasimi Princess Irina zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Mr. Ian Stoutzker CBE Mr. Terence D. Allen Mr. Salem Brahimi Ms. Mary Corrado Mr. Bashir Al Haskouri Dr. Frauke Heard-Bey Mr. Mohamed A. L. Kanoo Dr. Shaikha Al Maskari Mr. Manish Pandey Mr. Raymond Mouracade Legal Counsel Al Adala Legal Consultants 6 7 8 9 As the National Year of Giving led into the centenary celebrations of the Founding YEAR OF Father’s birth with the ‘Year of Zayed’, ADMAF’s Founder reflects on a legacy of ZAYED tolerance, cultural development, innovation, and the meeting of tradition and modernity Sheikh Zayed, the UAE’s Founding Father, famously Abu Dhabi Festival, which continues its journey said: “Science and culture are the cornerstone of of discovery, education, and enjoyment. One civilisation, progress and nation-building.” must pause and appreciate what Sheikh Zayed has granted us and how all these magnificent This belief was the very cornerstone of his institutions of culture and creativity were made visionary achievements. For us to truly appreciate possible by the Founder of this nation, at a time the significance of his outlook, we must travel when it took vision, determination and audacity to back one hundred years, to Al Ain in 1918, the year choose unity over division, to choose diversity over of his birth. Amid the expanse of a desert stood the reassuring comfort of a closed society. a beautiful green jewel of date palms clustered around clear pools of water. Here, existence was As we celebrated the Year of Zayed, we honoured focused on survival in the extreme dry environment. a great leader of the past; we also sought out a Yet, despite the adversity of such an environment, bright path to the future. If one Sheikh Zayed would become a looks at the suffering of so many young man determined to make in the Arab World, the many a difference for his people, a man “What we take for granted dangers we face in the very who shaped the vision of a great nation. He dreamed of bringing today was far from being heart of our shared heritage and together the peoples of the obvious many years ago. faith of Islam, we must realise desert and those from the coast, that the message of Sheikh inspiring harmony between Our organisation has Zayed to the world is one that tribes and traders. He chose, always celebrated the has become more urgent than amid those harsh conditions, to ever. This message is one of forge a nation built on tolerance diversity that this nation hope, for it is also a challenge and inclusion. Throughout this stands for” to our generation: as Sheikh voyage, he never departed from Zayed succeeded, along with his own traditions, yet he also the other leaders with whom accepted the cultures of all who came to call that he built this nation, it becomes our duty to choose desert land home. tolerance and hope over fear and exclusion. It is for us to carry on weaving the elegant and intricate This spirit lives on today – with more than 200 balance between tradition and modernity. And this different nationalities calling the UAE home, is precisely what culture is about. Sheikh Zayed’s vision has realised an enlightened and happy society where all can prosper. During the Year of Zayed, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation was moved by this enduring The Year of Zayed is a natural celebration for a spirit, inspired to embody a mix of tradition and cultural organisation such as the Abu Dhabi Music modernity, and to be rooted in our own culture & Arts Foundation. Indeed, a lot of what we take for while opening our minds and hearts to the world. granted today was far from being obvious many years ago. Our organisation has always celebrated Sheikh Zayed did not merely invest in education, the diversity within unity that this nation stands he invested in his people, for the people are the for. This diversity is evident in the seven Emirates true strength of a nation. complementing each other, but also in the cultural I end with a beautiful verse from the poetry of diversity of the country, home to so many different nationalities, living side by side in harmony and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al prosperity. Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai: “Zayed was not one of us. In fact, Zayed Look at the extraordinary cultural institutions was all of us. We are the children of the nation that Abu Dhabi is home to, including the Louvre of Zayed; we carry his dream and we all strive Abu Dhabi, and soon the Sheikh Zayed National towards furthering and fulfilling his vision.” Museum, which will trace the history of the arts both national and universal. We also see the As we celebrated the Year of Zayed, we honoured Sharjah Biennial and the many diverse museums, his memory, his spirit, through our endeavours. Dubai Opera House, each bringing different visions And as he did, we chose to believe in the future. In of the world to an ever-growing audience, and the education, in culture and in ourselves. 8 9 10 11 CONTENTS 12 ADMAF Vision 14 ADMAF Timeline 16 The Year in Review 20 Education and Community 42 The Nation's Gallery 48 The ADMAF Art Collection 50 ADMAF Grants 54 ADMAF International 58 ADMAF Partners 64 ADMAF Publications 66 ADMAF Marketing 72 Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 10 11 The winning submission for 2018’s Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award: Qasa’ed 12 13 ADMAF VISION MISSION The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is a non-profit organisation that seeks to nurture the arts, education, culture and creativity for the benefit of society and the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision. With a commitment to education and community engagement, it aims to complement Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision by upholding the highest standards of excellence in the field of social responsibility. VISION Culture is the key that unlocks a nation’s creativity. It is the food that nurtures the soul of mankind. It is the language that transcends borders. It is the anchor that unites a nation. ADMAF believes in the fundamental right for every person, regardless of age or ability, to access, understand and appreciate cultural expression. Established in 1996 by Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, ADMAF undertakes a broad range of initiatives and events each year, bringing together audiences of diverse origins often in partnership with leading national and international institutions. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES • Through the practice and teaching of the arts and culture, embed creativity and innovation among the people of the UAE • Enable access to the arts and culture and advocate their impact in the areas of educational development and community cohesion • Raise the level of awareness and understanding of the culture and heritage of the UAE • Contribute to the positioning of Abu Dhabi as a prominent international cultural destination • Engage young nationals in the future of the UAE’s cultural and creative industries and nurture their professional development in this sector • Facilitate cross-cultural dialogue through national, regional and international partnerships • Develop a permanent collection of modern and contemporary art from the United Arab Emirates and beyond 12 13 Calendar of THE ADMAF the Foundation’s TIMELINE activities in 2018 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH ADMAF Founder H.E. Huda The world premiere of Barrie The 15th Abu Dhabi Festival I. Alkhamis-Kanoo addresses Kosky’s Carmen takes place celebrates the Year of Zayed, with audiences at the Abu Dhabi at the Royal Opera House - a a diverse international programme Publishing Forum, outlining co-comission with Abu Dhabi that includes the world premiere the importance of literature Festival of Emirati composer Ihab to cultural identity Darwish’s Waves of My Life © ROH. Photo by Bill Cooper NOVEMBER OCTOBER On 4th November, From Ashur to ADMAF Ambassadors lead The Seville, a co-production between ADMAF Roadshow to 13 colleges Abu Dhabi Festival and Barcelona’s across the seven Emirates. Students Teatro del Liceu, made history with get inspired and informed on grants, its world premiere commissions and awards 14 15 APRIL MAY ADMAF returns to ADMAF Founder H.E. Huda the Abu Dhabi International I. Alkhamis-Kanoo attends Book Fair, and launches Jalal strategic partner The American Luqman’s Armagondas Ballet Theatre’s Spring Gala at the Lincoln Center, New York City JULY JUNE Mona Al Ali, winner of Mubadala The second cohort of Cultural Design Commission 2016, travels Excellence Fellows finish their to La Biennale di Venezia and the journey, after 14 sessions and 98 European Cultural Academy as hours of training over two years part of her award by nine trainers, nine pioneers and nine protégés 14 15 16 17 Highlights from the Foundation’s activities IN REVIEW January - December 2018 Year of Zayed Theatre In 2018, ADMAF joined the UAE in celebrating Members of the UAE Theatre Circle undertook an 100 years since the birth of the nation’s Founding intensive three-week training course under the Father.