Dubai: Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (Ductac) began its annual public open day and officially launched the UAE's first multi-disciplinary arts festival on its 2009/10 season agenda.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Millie J. Tsai, general manager of Ductac, in the presence of Brian Wilkie, acting chairman and MD of Universal Express, and Yassir Al Gergawi from Dubai Culture, and Ductac's sponsors.
The season will see the hosting of a number of international artists and performers of music, dance, drama and film.
Various forms of art from around the world will be presented during the four-month extravaganza, providing the UAE community with a rich cultural experience.
Solo violinist Mohammad Hamami, the founder of Sharq Orchestra, accompanied by a harpist, performed famous tunes fromrenowned Arab artists for the media.
All tastes
The forthcoming art agenda has been set to suit all tastes and all ages and has been planned to appeal to everyone.
"We have decided to expand our arts agenda and combine it with most viewed and entertaining art programmes. Our theatre would be a place to provide entertainment, education and total enjoyment for all ages and to satisfy everyone. Well, most people presume that art is exclusive for a certain category. I tell them that, on the contrary, art is for everyone and we have a mission to bring all the community together. Art gathers all," Wilkie told Gulf News.
"Our season reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the country and upholds the spirit of Ductac that basically was established to bring art into everyday lives of the Emirati community."
Asked about the role of Emirati artists in the programme, she replied: "Certainly they are our top priority and we don't spare any effort to give exposure to them either locally or internationally and the best example is that our coming programme includes an Emirati artist Khalid Mezaina, who has a joint work with the Irish artist Declan Rooney. The artists are working together in order to explore how their cultural backgrounds can be combined in an art form."
Emirati talents
Al Gergawi emphasised the role of Dubai in encouraging the country's artistic movement and values.
"We pay great attention to our Emirati talents and equip them with all the tools they need," he told Gulf News. The programmes combine family classics, collaborative art and mural projects, classical concerts, art house cinema, and 70s-style Bollywood to stand-up comedy and hip-hop dance to Arabic folklore. The season will be formally launched on Friday.
The programne is divided into four main categories.
The art category will include:
The Ductac Mural, Ductac World Record Attempt, Mezaina-Rooney, Depict which presents the art of Illustration, Sustainable City and Dubai 1962 Book Launch
Music & Dance category will include:
Sur Sangam which will take part in December 19, Essence of Arabia, Prelude to The Emirates, Ascendance Hip-Hop and Dubai Sinfonia.
Drama category includes:
Jasmine And The Devil, The Tales of Peter Rabbit, Maz Jobrani, Horrible Histories, Animal Farm, Almost Maine, One Small Step and Mahim Junction.
And finally Film category includes: Supershock vs. Metropolis
Entertainment: Four main categories
The programme is divided into four main categories.
- The art category will include: The Ductac Mural, Ductac World Record Attempt, Mezaina-Rooney, Depict, which presents the art of illustration, sustainable city and Dubai 1962 book launch
- Music & Dance category will include: Sur Sangam, which will take place in December 19, Essence of Arabia, Prelude to The Emirates, Ascendance Hip-Hop and Dubai Sinfonia.
- Drama category includes: Jasmine And The Devil, The Tales of Peter Rabbit, Maz Jobrani, Horrible Histories, Animal Farm, Almost Maine, One Small Step and Mahim Junction.
-Film category includes: Supershock vs Metropolis
The event is being held in Ductac theatre at the Mall of the Emirates
