Latest news with #CulturalFoundation
FACT
a day ago
- Entertainment
- FACT
The European Film Festival returns to Abu Dhabi
The European Film Festival celebrates cinema, culture and collaboration. There's always something happening in Abu Dhabi. While local talent and culture remain at the centre of the capital's creative scene, it also knows how to embrace the world. This time, Abu Dhabi is marking the return of the celebrated European Film Festival. Back for its second edition, the celebration of cinema will take place from 23 to 29 June at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. Organised by the European Union Delegation to the UAE, in collaboration with the Cultural Foundation, this week-long celebration of cinema aims to bridge cultures, foster dialogue, and showcase diverse perspectives. The theme of this year's festival revolves around identity, resilience, and social change. Seventeen films from across the continent will be screened, spotlighting cinematic gems from France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and more. Expect coming-of-age dramas, historical adventures, comedies, and much more. Some of the films to look out for include Bigman from the Netherlands, Ramona from Spain, Dangerous Gentlemen from Poland, and Four Souls of Coyote from Hungary. For the first time, the festival will also feature an Emirati production. Mountain Boy, directed by Zainab Shaheen and brought to life by a 32-member Emirati cast and crew, will join the line-up, marking a significant moment of cultural exchange and collaboration between the UAE and Europe. In addition to the screenings, the European Film Festival will host a free three-day workshop. Aimed at aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters, these sessions are designed to support local talent with practical skills and industry insights. Tickets to the European Film Festival screenings start from AED 25 per film. So, whether you're a cinephile or a budding filmmaker, this festival promises to entertain, educate, and inspire. GO: Visit for more information.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi turns down the heat with snow parks and artistic adventures
18 June 2025 00:14 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)As temperatures climb in the UAE, Abu Dhabi is embracing summer with a refreshing wave of indoor experiences. From cutting-edge art experiences and oceanic wonders to sports havens and adrenaline-packed theme parks, the capital is brimming with places that offer cool relief and creative energy all summer long. Arts, Culture & EntertainmentAt the Cultural Foundation, visitors can immerse themselves in Malaysia's vibrant contemporary art scene through "To Know Malaysia is to Love Malaysia: Highlights from the AFK Collection", running until September 10. The exhibition offers a rich view into Malaysia's creative independence and artistic evolution. Running alongside it is "Maitha Abdalla: Between Metamorphosis and Reality", showcasing a mix of paintings and sculptures until August families, the long-running "Crafts and Play" exhibit, open until June 25, invites children aged 3 to 12 to learn about Emirati weaving traditions through hands-on games centred on Al-Sadu, Talli, and Khoos Cultural Foundation's Children's Library adds to the family-friendly lineup with daily programming that fosters literacy and imagination. Regular favourites include Storytime, Baby & Me, and Maker Mums. Entry to the library and exhibitions is free, with select workshops requiring prior Cultural Foundation also offers a wide range of paid art classes in painting, ceramics, sewing, and design that cater to the creative minds of all town at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the Middle East debut of "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" opens on July 25 and runs through September 14. The exhibition brings the beloved franchise to life with original props, costumes, and interactive experiences for fans, young and on display is "Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits", a landmark collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art that explores the legacy of Korea's radical contemporary art art studio sessions also continue at Manarat Al Saadiyat, with a full schedule of workshops and drop-in classes for all age lovers can retreat into immersive spaces like teamLab Phenomena in Saadiyat Cultural District. This vast, multi-sensory art destination merges light, sound, and movement to produce artworks that shift and evolve with the Abu Dhabi is also offering plenty to keep visitors engaged - children enjoy free summer access, while general admission is 30% off online, excluding select seasonal can visit the Children's Museum's latest exhibition, "Picturing the Cosmos", a space-themed journey that explores how artists from different cultures interpret the older children and teens, the museum's ArtLab summer programme returns with multi-day workshops in July and August. Participants will explore ancient languages and symbolism, inspired by the story of the Tower of Babel, through collaborative, hands-on art July, the museum will unveil a new 30-minute virtual reality experience that allows guests to travel through time and visit historical empires, from Imperial Rome to Mughal WTC Abu Dhabi has launched a seven-month programme of weekly events and entertainment for all nights take over the public square every Tuesday evening with family-friendly screenings and free popcorn. Thursdays are for gamers, with a dedicated digital zone open from 2pm to 10pm, while Friday evenings feature live music and high-energy musical bingo. Saturdays kick off with morning fitness classes, including yoga, Zumba, and is free with a same-day shopping receipt from the mall, and all children under 13 must be accompanied by an 421 Arts Campus in Mina Zayed hosts a contemporary art space with a roster of galleries, workshops and art shows. Housed in converted warehouses, it's both a platform for emerging talent and a welcoming place for community connection over coffee and conversation. Cool Escapes & High-Energy AdventuresIf thrill is what you're after, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi guarantees high-octane fun with the world's fastest rollercoaster, the planet's tallest loop ride, and over 40 record-breaking attractions. For something a little cooler, Snow Abu Dhabi at Reem Mall brings the magic of winter to the desert. Designed as an "Enchanted Forest", the indoor snow park features over 20 rides and attractions, including a polar train, a magical carousel, and a soaring owl-themed ride, all wrapped in immersive marine-inspired magic, The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi, home to more than 46,000 creatures, offers cool encounters in its ten themed zones. Sharks, rays, and sea turtles are just the beginning, with the educational arm ready to welcome up to 50,000 students a short drive away, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi promises more aquatic adventures with eight immersive realms, 100+ animal encounters, 35 interactive rides, and roaming performances that merge education with Yas Mall launched a new Fitness & Wellness series, which runs until December. Held in the cool interiors of the Prayer Hall Corridor, classes like Pilates, Flex & Flow, Cardio & Core, and Full Body Fitness are led by local instructor Azza Al Mughairy and open to all levels with limited Sports City (ZSC) offers another summer option for indoor fitness lovers, featuring everything from boxing and futsal to tennis and early morning refreshing ice-skating rink offers the perfect escape from the summer heat, complemented by a massive 40-lane bowling centre and the city's largest billiards and snooker hall. It also caters to niche and regional interests, with spaces for hurling, camogie, and Ultimate Frisbee. And if you're in the mood for a relaxed outdoor stroll without breaking a sweat, head to the UAE's first-ever air-conditioned pedestrian walkway in Al Nahyan. Opened by the Department of Municipalities and Transport in late 2024, the path stays at a breezy 24°C year-round thanks to underground cooling systems, heat-filtering roofing, and sound-muffling walls. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation presents Emirati Artist Maitha Abdalla in solo exhibition
26 May 2025 19:13 ABU DHABI (WAM)The Abu Dhabi-based Cultural Foundation, a cultural centre under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is shining a spotlight on local talent, with 'Maitha Abdalla: Between Metamorphosis and Reality', an ongoing solo exhibition by Emirati multidisciplinary artist, Maitha display until August 30, 2025, the exhibition invites visitors into a world where fantasy and reality merge, identity is ever shifting, and storytelling takes on a deeply personal a captivating mix of painting and sculpture, Abdalla explores folklore, mythology, psychology, and social constructs that shift between abstraction and representation. The exhibition highlights the power of art to spark dialogue, inspire self-reflection, and strengthen cultural connections within the the lines between disciplines, Maitha Abdalla's practice spans film, photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, and performance. She draws inspiration from the performative nature of theatre, using its constructed nature to explore themes of folklore, and social works often depict characters caught in confined, domestic spaces - symbols of vulnerability and self-exploration. Through expressive, textural techniques, she applies dense layers of oil and acrylic with her fingertips, and outlines figures with gestural smears of charcoal, making her process as physical as it is work explores social structures, memories, and fantasies through a lens that is both objective and intensely personal. Infused with drama, melancholy, and introspection, her compositions invite viewers into a world of shifting emotions and fragmented layered textures and expressive techniques, Abdalla embeds herself in her art, with each brushstroke and gesture reflecting her presence, making her creative process a 'performance in itself.'An artist talk featuring Maitha Abdalla, moderated by Munira Al Sayegh (Lead Curator and Founder of Dirwaza Curatorial Lab), will take place on May 28, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 diverse practice, spanning performance, sculpture, painting, and video, explores fundamental themes of birth, death, guilt, and metamorphosis, blurring the lines between memory and myth. The conversation will reflect on her artistic journey through the lens of these powerful ideas, including insights from her recent residency at the Cultural Foundation. The nuanced discussion will also investigate tensions between visibility and vulnerability, the relationship between language and the physical form, and the role of ritual in the act of creation.
Sharjah 24
05-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Khaled bin Mohamed attends 2025 Pritzker Prize Ceremony
Hosting the ceremony underscores the importance of fostering intellectual dialogue and creative exchange by supporting architecture and design as fundamental pillars of sustainable development and cultural diplomacy. Abu Dhabi's architectural legacy is rooted in decades of thoughtful investment from the restoration of key heritage sites such as Qasr Al Hosn and the Cultural Foundation, to the creation of modern landmarks including Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel (Pritzker Laureate, 2008), the upcoming Zayed National Museum by Lord Norman Foster (Pritzker Laureate, 1999), and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry (Pritzker Laureate, 1989). These projects reflect the emirate's long-term commitment to shaping a culturally rich and inclusive urban landscape that resonates locally and globally, reinforcing its status as a leading destination for architectural excellence and cross-cultural exchange. The ceremony, hosted at the Louvre Abu Dhabi part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), honoured Chinese architect Liu Jiakun as the 2025 Laureate, and brought together prominent figures from the global architecture community, including several past Pritzker Prize recipients.
Al Etihad
05-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi reveals Abu Dhabi to host Pritzker Architecture Prize ceremony in Middle East for first time
5 May 2025 16:14 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that Abu Dhabi will host the 2025 Pritzker Prize ceremony, marking a historic first for the UAE and the Middle East. As the world's most esteemed recognition in the field of architecture, the Pritzker Architecture Prize honours living architects whose work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment. Their contributions must show consistent and significant impact on humanity and the built environment through the art of Dhabi's selection as the host city further strengthens its role as a leading destination for the world's foremost creative thinkers, and reflects the emirate's growing contribution to global architectural discourse, with a legacy of bold vision and cultural investment that bridges heritage, innovation, and of DCT Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said, "We are deeply honoured that Abu Dhabi has been chosen as the host city for the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, reflecting the recognition Abu Dhabi has received globally as a cultural centre. By hosting this event, DCT Abu Dhabi is honoured to offer a platform for the exchange of ideas that will shape the cities of tomorrow. This reaffirms Abu Dhabi's long-term vision to place creativity, dialogue, and sustainability at the heart of our development, and our belief in the transformative power of architecture to shape communities and enrich lives.'From the development and restoration of the Cultural Foundation to modern icons like Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel (Pritzker Prize Laureate, 2008), the soon-to-open Zayed National Museum by Lord Norman Foster (Pritzker Prize Laureate, 1999), and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry (Pritzker Prize Laureate, 1989), the emirate has emerged as a global centre for transformative and meaningful landmark projects are in line with DCT Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to preserving, promoting, and protecting the emirate's rich cultural heritage while also championing innovation and creativity as drivers of sustainable development and global event will coincide with a public panel discussion taking place at the Cultural Foundation on May 3, led by Liu Jiakun, the 2025 Pritzker Prize will be joined by fellow Laureates Riken Yamamoto (2024), David Chipperfield (2023), and Francis Kéré (2022). Together, these leading voices will explore the role of architecture in celebrating cultural expression reflected in their own practices and the future of the built environment.
