Integrating arts under one umbrella

After years of steady development across a number of key sectors including trade and industry, Fujairah has taken serious steps to boost its success in culture.

Therefore, the Emiri decree in November 2006, which brought into existence the Fujairah Culture & Media Authority (FCMA), was seen as a natural move for an aspiring emirate seeking to make its mark.

The decree by His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, set forth a vision for the emirate in which culture and creativity are given every opportunity to prosper.

FCMA, with Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamad Al Sharqi at the helm, was charged with raising the standards of creativity and performance, in the fields of media and culture, to reflect an Emirati and Fujairah identity inspired by an Arab and Islamic tradition.

The body was given complete management and financial independence to carry out its mission, and the executive power to set strategies and implement them.

FCMA can be seen as an umbrella group acting as a link between the government of Fujairah and the various media organisations and cultural associations in the emirate.

Guidance

These include: Fujairah Media - incorporating Fujairah FM and, the soon to go on air, television version - and the recently unveiled Creative City, akin to Dubai Media City.

The establishment of FCMA also marks a reforming of the old government culture support structure.

Streamlining spending, integrating the arts and refocusing on an overall common strategy for the emirate are seen as some of the benefits of such an umbrella body.

As from next year, all clubs and associations will be required to come under the guidance of FCMA. Ebrahim Allan, Executive Secretary and Cultural Adviser for FCMA, stresses the move was not intended as a form of censorship.

"We, being responsible for the different associations, does not mean censorship, it's more about support, sponsorship and coordination ... we hope in the future these organisations will benefit from the human resources and know-how of FCMA, as it grows."

As well as propping-up cultural associations, FCMA also has a vision of festivals, theatres and public libraries. The already successful Fujairah Monodrama Festival has come under the wing of FCMA.

Plans are already afoot to build a new Fujairah National Theatre to be complemented by another open-air stage near Fujairah Fort, part of wider plans for a cultural village in that area.

The cultural village at the Fort will also house galleries, an auditorium and a handcraft and art centre. There are also plans for a library specifically catering to children.

It is all part of the first strategic plan, Allan says, which is to put Fujairah on the Arab cultural map. This, he explained, will be achieved through four key stages.

"The first stage is to modernise the cultural infrastructure in the emirate through the development of theatres, performance halls and cultural centres," Allan said.

"Secondly, we aim to support artists and creative talents, such as performers and authors. Thirdly, the promotion of cultural festivals and events of all shapes and sizes... and lastly, through the developing of media output."

Focusing on the development of human talent will be made a priority by FCMA as they invest in vocational training and education.

Young talent

Aspiring talents, both artistic and technical, are likely to benefit from a number of courses and experience opportunities in the coming years which are now virtually non-existent.

Women and children are at the centre of FCMA plans, said Allan.

"We want to encourage more women organisations to flourish, because we feel women and children are the cornerstone of society," he said.

An annual school literature competition, covering poetry, fiction and play scripts is hoped to be introduced soon to encourage creative thinking among students.

It is just one of the ways FCMA is trying to reach out to young people.

He said: "Any time a school has an event they come to us and we help them out in terms of organisation, publicity etc. and even when we have our own events, we work closely with the Fujairah Education Zone to circulate news of it at the schools."

Allan stresses that FCMA is always looking to engage young talents in the organisation process of events and competitions.

Boosting cultural clubs in Fujairah

Name: Fujairah Cultural & Media Authority (FCMA).
Established: In November 2006, through an Emiri decree by His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.
Mission: Enhance and boost cultural endeavours in Fujairah.
Structure: Governing Council led by Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamad Al Sharqi and an Executive Committee.
Overseeing: Fujairah Media (Fujairah FM & TV station) and Creative City, as well as all cultural clubs and associations.
Activities: FMCA runs a number of activities ranging from photographic competitions to theatrical plays; also it plans to enhance the reputation of the Monodrama Festival by attracting big names from the stage and acting professions.