Patronage to all by all

According to the Oxford dictionary, a patron is "a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organisation, cause, etc". It has become more commonly associated with the arts and refers to collectors who do more than just purchase the art but frequent the fairs and exhibitions, organise dinners and sit on panels titled ‘patronage in the new century' and ‘living with art'.

This mental association of patrons with the arts dates back to the Renaissance when the Medici family of Florence commissioned what are now the city's great cathedrals and frescos.

Relating this back to the UAE, patronage has become a buzzword of sorts recently. This has been due to the development of the museums in Saadiyat Island and the more recent Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards — an award that recognises financial contributions made towards Dubai's arts scene. Coupled with the economic crisis and the art market's frantic search for ‘new' patrons via alternative techniques, it has become important to discuss patronage in relation to the UAE and how it can benefit the development of the nation in general.

Distinct

However, one must first note that we are a confederacy and that means that our seven emirates have distinctive characters and in turn approach cultural development differently; we see that in the manner which patronage has formed in each emirate.

This is demonstrated very clearly by the differing plans by the cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. In Abu Dhabi's case the government had to take the bold initial steps in order to attract international partnerships and, just as much, to signal a shift in policy to its inhabitants.

In Dubai's case, the government is really a facilitator and it's the collective goodwill of the city's creative community that is shaping Dubai's cultural identity. The development of this cultural identity has been historically patronised by private groups and individuals. Finally, in Sharjah's case, it is the sheer passion of His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for the arts that has shaped the city's cultural commitment.

Appreciating these delicate differences is key to understanding how cultural development is approached in the Emirates.

A second look at how we perceive patronage is now needed. In the Gulf, patronage is viewed as a more sophisticated version of charity; it is considered a lifestyle at best. In this new century we must find ways for patronage to become relevant to patrons beyond media coverage and social perception. Patronage is an investment in an expanded and sustainable future. Also, patronage should no longer be limited to the arts, even its expanded definition of visual, performing and literary arts. We need patrons of technology, sustainability (environmental and beyond), social development, entrepreneurship, education and health care. We need private groups and individuals to work hand-in-hand with the government and contribute to the development of the Emirates as a modern nation.

The private sector, both national and expatriate, can no longer afford to continue to operate in the UAE without collectively investing in these sectors. Technological advances increase productivity and functionality while advances in sustainability and efficient consumption would translate to savings in the energy bill which could be spent elsewhere.

Social programmes that uproot people from paths leading towards crime would provide for a larger consumer base. Investing and facilitating start-up ventures would go a long way to realising a trickle economy as opposed to one that depends heavily on government owned ventures. Good schools and hospitals produce an educated healthy populace.

Promising

One approach that seems promising is to develop ways in which small donations and/or investments can be pooled into larger funds that would be utilised towards those goals. Gone are the days when patronage is by estate lords and multinationals alone. This is the era of collaborating individuals that together develop cities of international resonance and regional significance.

Investing in these sectors should not be expected to be conducted in a selfless spirit. It is the epitome of self-interest, albeit a self that is interested in a sustainable diversified economy of a civil society. This is the ‘Emiratropolis' which we are all determined to realise.

As vested members of this nation we can no longer expect the government to do it all for us. We have a role as private individuals and groups to not only support these efforts but also lead in them.

And we must not settle for ‘quick wins' but rather deal with long-standing challenges that have never been properly addressed and make a commitment to addressing them once and for all. As to time, there has never been a more appropriate time for such challenges. After all, patrons without time are not patrons.

Mishaal Al Gergawi is an Emirati commentator on socio-economic and cultural affairs in the UAE.