Dubai: The Culture and Arts Authority of Dubai (Dubai Culture) recently took part at the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held at the National Mall in Washington, USA.
At the event which was organized under the theme ‘United Arab Emirates: Living Landscape | Living Memory,’ the Authority offered an innovative journey to the visitors who explored the Emirate’s heritage, traditions and history.
SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
One of the most prominent artistic and cultural events in the world, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual affair which had suspended its activities for the last 2 years.
This year’s event hosted the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will full backing from the Ministry of Culture and Youth and in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE Embassy in the United States of America.
The event which witnessed the participation of 80 UAE artists, celebrated the Emirati heritage, identity and cultural, artistic and creative achievements, highlighting the UAE’s hosting of many prestigious cultural events that bring the intellectual world together.
DUBAI CULTURE’s OFFERINGS
As part of its participation at the event, Dubai Culture carried out a presentation of traditional Emirati sailing boats from its collections, in addition to a group of heritage collectables that were loaned from Al Shindagha Museum, as well as collections related to the culture of the sea, such as marine navigation and pearl diving tools.
Apart from the display of collections, the Authority had also organized lectures with experts who shed light on the rich culture of the sea within Emirati heritage.
The event also provided visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the creation of the Al-Durour map, which was a reference for forecasting weather conditions based on the locations of the stars, and highlighted the emirate’s efforts to preserve Emirati cultural heritage across generations.
Commenting on the participation of Dubai Culture at the event, Ms. Mariam Al-Tamimi, Manager of Al Shindagha Neighbourhood and Acting Director of Heritage Sites Department at Dubai Culture, emphasized that the Authority is keen to celebrate Emirati culture and heritage and spares no effort to spread Dubai’s cultural heritage around the world, enhancing the emirate’s cultural footprint in international forums and consolidating its position as a global center for culture.
“Dubai is a vibrant city that provides its residents and visitors with unique experiences to learn about its distinctive heritage and historical origins. Participation in this festival was an opportunity to promote Al Shindagha Museum as a major cultural attraction in the emirate, contributing to revitalizing the museum’s cultural tourism. This came within the framework of the collaboration between Al Shindagha Museum and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which stems from the Authority’s belief in the importance of intercultural cooperation and building strong international partnerships that contribute to supporting the creative economy and its contribution to the national economy,” Ms. Al-Tamimi added.