Abu Dhabi: The autumn programme for the UK-UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration was announced in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with a number of events, including a digital exhibition of the seventh century manuscript of Quran, found in Birmingham.
Organised by the British Council and partnered with entities such as the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, the UK-UAE 2017 Year of Collaboration aims to strengthen the cultural links between the two countries, and to also celebrate the historic relationship shared by both nations.
The UK-UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration already saw its successful spring season earlier this year, with more than 140 events held in six different emirates, and at least 85,000 people attending.
“This creative collaboration celebrates the long-standing relationship between our two countries and aims to strengthen and develop existing relationships across various cultural fields,” said Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
“The importance of this relationship stems from the enthusiasm of leaders of both countries to support and activate cooperation in a wide range of cultural sectors to ensure we meet government objectives and achieve common goals,” she added.
Al Kaabi spoke on the benefit of cultural exchange programmes, highlighting how countries could use the opportunity to learn from one another.
“Gaining greater insight into the British cultural scene has inspired us and highlighted the significant ways in which we can further the UAE cultural and art sector.
“We hope likewise, that the UAE’s growing cultural scene has also impacted our British friends,” she added.
For his part, Philip Parham, British Ambassador to the UAE, said that the UK was looking to further strengthen its relationship with the UAE.
“Our relationship is deep and historic, but it is also modern and dynamic … Our aim for the UK-UAE Year of Creative Collaboration is to strengthen and deepen further our contemporary relationships, reaching out to new audiences supporting new collaborations.”
Commenting on the autumn programme, Parham said that one of the main highlights would be the digital exhibition of the manuscript of Quran found in Birmingham.
“These are parchment leaves of the Quran that have been established by radio carbon dating to be one of the earliest existing examples of the Islamic holy book.
“The exhibition is going to tour Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai, [and will be] combined with an education programme of talks and workshops,” he added.
Full list of programmes and events can be found on the British Council’s official website: https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/uk-uae-2017
