Abu Dhabi: A press conference held in the capital on Wednesday saw a group of young Emirati students narrating the most fascinating experience of their lives after travelling to Copenhagen in Denmark for six days.
The students undertook the trip courtesy of an initiative titled ‘Explorations in the Arts’ supported by the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. The initiative endeavours to help the UAE community show a greater openness to the arts and introduce the people of the UAE to the dynamic art scene.
The foundation received around 40 applications, but only nine participants were selected.
“Nine out of 40 students were eligible to enter this programme. All students were required to fill in an application form and submit a portfolio. Then they were required to sit an interview with a jury panel from the foundation to evaluate their interest in arts and the programme,” Khulood Al Atiyat, the foundation’s manager of arts, culture and heritage, said.
The students selected for the trip compromised of three males and six females. All of those selected were aged between 17-22 and were from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah.
“This year’s edition targeted university students in order to achieve higher impacts. They are mature enough to take wise decisions and choose their future career. The programme has started in June and ended in August in collaboration with arts-related organisations in the UAE,” Khulood said.
“The programme’s curriculum was designed to introduce students to the UAE art scene and allow them to understand the possible careers in it. They participated in a month-long hands-on experience in July through internships at an arts-related organistion in the UAE, such as Manart Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, The Third Line, Al Serkal Avenue, Tashkeel in Dubai and The Sharjah Art Foundation.
“A trip to Copenhagen was also organised for six days in August, where students visited galleries, museums, and renowned art universities,” she added.
Shaikha Fahd Al Katbi, who studies visual art at Zayed University, was fascinated with aspects of creativity and environment. “I want to engage the people of the UAE more in arts. Copenhagen is a great city for art lovers and a thriving art scene. I have done many projects in drawing, painting and sculpture at my university; however, my perceptions have been changed after an extensive practical experience gained during my last trip,” she added.
For Omar Ali Al Za’abi, who studies applied media at the Higher Colleges of Technology, Louisiana Museum was the most memorable stop on his trip.
“I love how they combine arts with nature. It is an exciting new field, which will interest nature lovers, art lovers and the general public alike. Maybe we don’t have the good weather in UAE, but we can still use sand to create imaginative works of art in a more conservative society,” he added.
“In UAE, architects are only architects, but in Copenhagen, an architect is an artist. Free arts can be seen everywhere, in parks, museums, trains, buildings and restaurants,” he told Gulf News.
Dr Salvatore LaSpada, executive director of Salama Foundation expressed his joy to see many young people interested in arts and culture.
“There is an amazing growth in art and culture sector in the UAE and there is an incredible creativity among youngsters. Our talented students can be the leaders of such programme and successful ambassadors of their country abroad,” he said.
The initiative, which was launched in 2013, targeted high school pupils. They had the chance to travel to Tokyo and explore all aspects of art. They attended lectures on contemporary art, met artists, curators, gallery owners and art directors.
The foundation, through its arts initiatives, supports people interested in arts, culture and heritage. This includes establishing the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Emerging Artists Fellowship, supporting the Lest We Forget initiative, and offering internship opportunities at the national pavilion UAE for la Biennale di Venezia.
