Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has renewed its partnership with Gulf Capital, one of the largest and most active alternative investment firms in the Middle East, for the 5th year in a row to bring a series of cultural initiatives to the 13th edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival (3-30 April).

Gulf Capital, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, has been working alongside ADMAF to support its various programmes in areas of education, culture and arts. This year, the company will be sponsoring educational and artistic activities aimed at nurturing the talent of Emirati youth and children, including The Gulf Capital – ADMAF Creativity Award 2016 (10-27 April), Picture This Exhibition (10-30 April) and The Gulf Capital – Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award 2016 (10 April-10 May).

Commenting on the ongoing partnership with ADMAF Dr Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital, said: “Supporting young Emiratis has always been at the core of Gulf Capital’s social initiatives. Our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation continues to back this highly regarded local organization, which has adopted a clear mission to nurture the arts and culture, education, and creativity within the UAE. With the 13th edition of the Foundation’s largest initiative – the Abu Dhabi Festival – taking place throughout April, we are delighted to support several of its core community and art initiatives, as the Festival looks to highlight the hotbed of Arab talent during this very special edition.”

During the official inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2016 headline art exhibition, Portrait of a Nation on 10 April in The Gallery, Emirates Palace, The Gulf Capital-ADMAF Creativity Award was bestowed upon Jumaanah Elhashemi, a graphic design student from Zayed University, Dubai. Established in 1996, the annual award recognizes outstanding Emirati creativity in the visual arts, performing arts, literature, animation or film. The Festival honoured Ms Elhashemi for her innovative, local, typographic design project ‘Degree Typeface’ which blends bold aesthetics and simplicity in a way that mirrors the modern Arab art and design movement. Ms Elhashemi’s piece is open for public viewing in the Emirates Palace Auditorium Foyer until 27 April 2016.

Following a series of workshops in collaboration with GOALS UAE and The Emirates Autism Society, Picture This Exhibition in association with Gulf Capital presents a mini exhibition of the produced artworks at The Galleria Mall until 30 April. Held as part of Autism Awareness Month, the exhibition presents inspiring artworks created by boys and girls with autism, highlighting the therapeutic effect visual art can have on children with learning disabilities.

The partnership also celebrates up and coming Emirati visual artists through The Gulf Capital – Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award 2016. The Award welcomes young Emirati visual arts practitioners to visit the Festival’s headline exhibition, Portrait of a Nation, and submit their artworks by 29 May for the chance to win AED 10,000. The award was launched during the Abu Dhabi Festival 2013 as a way to support the growth of the visual arts scene in the UAE, nurture the talent and creativity of emerging Emirati artists, and encourage students to visit, interact and be inspired by the annual Abu Dhabi Festival exhibition.

Source: ADMAF

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