Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has issued a decree creating a Cultural and Art Authority in Dubai.
The Authority will be a public body affiliated to Dubai Executive Council.
The aim of the authority will be to enhance the international status of Dubai, which will participate in developing and forming the cultural and heritage scene of the 21st century in the region and around the globe.
Shaikh Mohammad also issued a decree appointing Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as chairman of the Authority's board of directors and Omar Mohammad Ahmad Bin Sulaiman as board member and managing director.
Other board of director members include Mohammad Al Murr, Deputy Chairman, Majid Jaber Hamoud Al Sabbah, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Paolo Kwela and Keto Mark Antonio De Borr.
Vision
The launch of this authority is part of Dubai's 2015 strategy which aims to place Dubai on the international cultural and heritage map, backing the cultural sector which represents a pivotal axis in the comprehensive development process witnessed in Dubai and the UAE. Omar Bin Sulaiman, said that the authority will strive to boost Dubai's position as one of the world's most diverse cultural cities, where East meets West.
Bin Sulaiman stressed that the launch of this authority was a result of Shaikh Mohammad's vision and insight regarding the role of culture, heritage and art in advancing social development in Dubai and the UAE.
The authority will supervise the establishment of a developed culture and art infrastructure in Dubai.
It will also concentrate on establishing a creative atmosphere in visual arts, theatre, music, poetry, arts and heritage.
Several establishments will be active in carrying out artistic and culturally-related programmes. The authority will supervise the preparation of complete programmes in all fields of culture and art, in cooperation with the most prominent cultural and academic international establishments.
Bin Sulaiman added that the Authority will sponsor gifted UAE nationals, while protecting UAE heritage. It will also be in contact with prominent artists and thinkers from around the globe to be a part of Dubai's current flourishing development. The authority will also enhance export Dubai's culture and art to the rest of the world.
Merging culture
Among other responsibilities, the authority will take on the task of merging culture and art into Dubai's daily life and making use of art to create a suitable environment where all cultures will interact in Dubai, where a distinguished cultural identity will be established.
