Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture
The seventh annual Abu Dhabi Culture Summit will take place from 27 to 29 April, bringing designers, artists and culture leaders from around the world to the United Arab Emirates.
The 2025 edition of the summit, supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, will explore 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' as its central theme, questioning what
the cultural landscape of the future
could look like.
The event will aim to uncover 'new perspectives as we navigate global technological transitions and build a sustainable future together', Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement.
'From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship', said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture at
UNESCO
, which partners the summit.
Other global partners include the Design Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy.
The three-day event will feature conversations with artists including four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and digital and mixed-media artist
Refik Anadol, known for incorporating data and AI in his work.
Experts will also gather for panels on issues like the role of AI in creative industries, culture as an instrument of global governance, and the preservation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage.
The annual Culture Summit is part of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' increasing efforts to become leaders in the global cultural conversation.
In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Art Fair organised its largest-ever edition, welcoming 104 galleries, up from 92 in 2023.
Abu Dhabi has also been investing in its Saadiyat Cultural District, with the opening of
the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum in 2017
and the long-delayed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project.
'We believe that culture is the building block of any forward-thinking society. We believe it is principle for our youth', Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak told
Euronews.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
11 hours ago
- Euronews
British screen legend Terence Stamp dies aged 87
ADVERTISEMENT British screen legend Terence Stamp has died at the age of 87. The death of the Oscar-nominated actor on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online, prompting a wave of tributes from an array of fans and the following statement from his family: 'He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come.' Stamp is best known for playing General Zod in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) alongside Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. His portrayal of the villain was widely praised and he cemented his place in popular culture with his line: "Kneel before Zod." Born in London's East End on 22 July 1938, he starred in more than 60 films including Theorem , Far From the Madding Crowd , The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert , Young Guns , Star Wars: The Phantom Menace , The Limey and Valkyrie . His first film performance was as the title character in 1962's historical adventure movie Billy Budd – a role which earned him an Oscar nomination. Stamp received various accolades during his career, including a Golden Globe in 1962 for most promising newcomer for Billy Budd and a Cannes Film Festival best actor award in 1965 for The Collector . He famously missed out on playing James Bond after Sean Connery's tenure as 007 but went on to have a rich career, receiving a BAFTA nod in 1994 for his unforgettable role in The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert – which co-starred Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce. Pearce was one of the first to pay tribute to Stamp. He wrote on X: 'Fairwell dear Tel. You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels. We'll always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & F'ing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way 'Ralph'! Xxxx' His final big screen role was a brief cameo in Edgar Wright's 2021 film Last Night In Soho . Wright remembered the actor in an Instagram post as 'kind, funny, and endlessly fascinating.' 'The closer the camera moved, the more hypnotic his presence became. In close-up, his unblinking gaze locked in so powerfully that the effect was extraordinary. Terence was a true movie star: the camera loved him, and he loved it right back,' Wright said. Stamp was married to Elizabeth O'Rourke and did not have any children. RIP Terence Stamp (1938 – 2025)
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Two years after her death, a Sinéad O'Connor biopic is in the works
Two years after her death, a biopic on legendary Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor is reportedly in development. According to Variety, the film will be directed by Josephine Decker, known for the 2020 feature Shirley, based on the life of novelist Shirley Jackson. Decker will work from a script by Irish writer Stacey Gregg. Helming the project is Irish production company ie: entertainment, which already executive produced the 2022 Sinéad O'Connor documentary Nothing Compares. The upcoming film has reportedly been in the works since the release of the critically acclaimed documentary, on which the singer had collaborated. Other production companies involved in the biopic include Oscar-winning See-Saw Films, known for The King's Speech, Shame, Lion and The Power of the Dog, as well as Nine Daughters, which produced Lady Macbeth and God's Creatures. Both companies previously collaborated on Francis Lee's 2020 period drama Ammonite. The film is expected to focus on O'Connor's early life and career. It will tell the story "of how one young woman from Dublin took on the world, examining how her global fame may have been built on her talent, but her name became synonymous with her efforts to draw attention to the crimes committed by the Catholic Church and the Irish state." Sinéad O'Connor died in 2023 at age 56. The biggest commercial success of her four-decade career remained her 1990 album 'I' Do Not Want What I Haven't Got', which featured her hit cover of Prince's song 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. O'Connor, who self-identified as a 'protest singer', intertwined her music and activism throughout her life. She most vehemently advocated against child abuse in the Catholic Church. During a 1992 performance on US comedy show Saturday Night Live, she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II, a gesture that drew wide condemnation. In 2018, she converted to Islam and took the name Shuhada' Sadaqat, while continuing to perform under her birth name. The Irish musician released her memoir 'Rememberings" in 2021, just two years before her death. Her legacy was a subject of controversy during the 2024 US presidential campaign, when her estate asked Donald Trump to stop using 'Nothing Compares to U' at his political rallies. "Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings,' O'Connor's estate and her label Chrysalis Records said in a statement at the time. "As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates desist from using her music immediately."
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Tom Cruise turns down Donald Trump's invite for Kennedy Center Honor
US President Donald Trump has unveiled the slate of stars who will be honoured at the 48th Kennedy Center Honors later this year. They include rockers Kiss, Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone and 'I Will Survive' singer Gloria Gaynor. As the new chairman of the Kennedy Center, Trump announced the honorees himself during a Wednesday press conference at the site. Unlike in his first term, when he didn't even attend the honours ceremony, he announced that he would be hosting it later this year and that he had been deeply involved with the selection process. However, there is one star who will not be making an appearance: Tom Cruise. According to The Washington Post, the film star declined the lifetime achievement award, citing 'scheduling conflicts.' The claim was reportedly confirmed by 'several' former and current Kennedy Center employees. Cruise is fresh off the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and the actor has several projects coming, which may make it difficult for him to attend the December ceremony. That, or it is speculated that he refusal may have other motivations, considering he will reportedly be present to receive his honourary Oscar in November. The actor has not publicly commented on President Trump's politics and recently declined to answer a Trump question while promoting the latest Mission: Impossible film in South Korea. Cruise was speaking at a Q&A panel when a reporter asked a question about the possible tariffs imposed by Trump on movie productions. "I watched this film and I saw that it was filmed in many different locations around the world, including Africa,' began the reporter. 'Of course, we all are aware of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie under that tariff? And how much of the film was shot overseas?" Cruise told the moderator: "We'd rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you." During the announcement of this year's Kennedy Center honourees, Trump claimed he 'waited and waited' to receive the award himself but 'was never able to get one.' He then suggested he might choose himself for a future award. 'I waited and waited and waited, and I said, 'The hell with it, I'll become chairman and I'll give myself an honour,'' he said. 'Next year, we'll honour Trump, okay?' He also stated that he 'turned down plenty' of candidates for the honours list because of their politics. 'They were too woke. I had a couple of wokesters,' Trump said. Stallone has a history of backing Trump, while founding Kiss member Ace Frehley endorsed Trump in 2020, so that tracks. However, Gloria Gaynor doesn't fit the bill as much. American chat show host Ana Navarro, who hosts The View, has publicly shared that she hopes Gaynor would turn down the award because of Trump's involvement. 'A few years ago, I got to briefly meet @gloriagaynor at a concert in Miami. She gifted me a keychain that belted out 'I Will Survive,' when you pressed it. Let's just say, during first Trump term, I pressed it til it ran out of batteries,' Navarro began in her Instagram post. 'Yesterday, Trump announced he picked her to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, which he plans to host. Look, the woman is a goddess and deserves all the flowers that come her way. But I wish she wouldn't accept an award from the hands of a man who has attacked the rights and history of women, people of color and LGBTQ. The gay community in particular, helped turn her signature song into an anthem.' She added: 'Trump is a stain on the prestige and significance of the KCH. Don't do it, Gloria!' Une publication partagée par Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarrofl) Trump took over as chairman of the Kennedy Center this year after he fired and replaced several members of the board with his own political supporters. He has vowed to steer the organsiation in a different direction, saying that it was 'not going to be woke.' His revamp of the Kennedy Center fits in with his ongoing push to overhaul cultural institutions like the Smithsonian museums. This week, the White House sent a letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, laying out in detail the steps it expects the organization to take as part of an announced review ordering cultural institutions to align their content with Trump's interpretation of American history. The probe will look at all public-facing content, such as social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to 'assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,' according to the letter. 'This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.' The 48th Kennedy Center Honors will take place in Washington D.C. on 7 December.
