CultureSummit Abu Dhabi is the world’s first high-level summit that convenes leaders from the worlds of the arts, media, public policy, and technology to identify ways that culture can raise awareness, build bridges and promote positive change. It is organized and produced by The Rothkopf Group and The Canales Project Ventures along with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism. CultureSummit 2018 will take place at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE from April 8-12, 2018 and focus on this year's theme of Unexpected Collaborations. The event will feature a series of curated performances, exhibits, and interventions by renowned artists and musicians across the world, from the European Union Youth Orchestra to Abu Dhabi’s Bait Al Oud musical academy, with new collaborations transcending disciplinary and cultural boundaries. “We are looking for the 2018 event to build on the success of the first inaugural summit,” said HE Noura Al Kaabi, “We expect to generate concrete efforts and tangible results in identifying ways to enhance and support arts education worldwide by connecting with sectors that may not seem quite so relevant to supporting culture, or contributing to public awareness. We believe that the concept of culture is broad and all-inclusive, and endures great potentials to impact people’s lives.” Talks will feature such speakers as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s Artistic Director Nancy Spector; Touria el Glaoui, Founder, Contemporary African Art Fair, and Nobel Peace LaureateKailash Satyarthi.
Organization
The Summit was planned with an intention of being the "Davos of culture" and a place "to highlight the power of collective imagination as a force for good."
Participants
The 2017 inaugural event was attended by 450 delegates from 80 countries, including internationally acclaimed visual artist Idris Khan, Academy Award-winning composer and conductor Tan Dun, former United States Secretary of StateMadeleine Albright, MacArthur Fellow and award-winning choreographer Liz Lerman, His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Dr. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It was, however, criticized for excluding a lot of local Emirati artists. CultureSummit 2017 hosted representatives from the following organizations:
