Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the emirate’s dedicated authority for culture, arts, and heritage, has signed a MoU with Institut Français to expand current platforms for cultural and artistic exchange between France and the UAE.

The agreement comes in line with its mandate to strengthen artistic excellence and intercultural cooperation, said a statement from Dubai Culture.

Saeed Al Nabouda, the acting director general of the Dubai Culture, and David Berolotti, the director and advisor to the Ambassador for Cultural Affairs, signed the agreement.

Under the MoU, the authority and Institut Français have launched an artist-in-residence programme, in line with Dubai Culture’s mandate to create robust growth opportunities for UAE-based and international talent in Dubai.

A part of Dubai Culture’s Arts Services initiative, this year’s programme opens the doors for cultural exchange for a French designer and a writer, enabling them to partner with Emirati and UAE-based artists.

The objective of the programme is to further strengthen the understanding of the local heritage and culture among the participants through educational activities such as workshops, school tours and mentorship.

The artists-in-residence programme will run from October 15 to December 15 in the historic Al Bastakiya, the cultural nerve-centre of Dubai, providing the artists with the opportunity to derive inspiration from the city.

Saeed Al Nabouda, said: "France and the UAE have shared strong cultural links especially through culture and the arts. This programme gives us the opportunity to further strengthen these ties by crossing cultural boundaries and exploring the facets of creativity that artists can attain in Dubai."

Bertolotti expressed delight at starting the artist-in-residence programme with Dubai Culture.

"This, I hope, is only the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration between our two institutions, which both aim at fostering intellectual and cultural bridges between our respective youths and artistic worlds," he added.

Led by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Institut Français was established in January 2011 as a new government agency in charge of promoting French culture abroad, to encourage international artistic exchange, strengthen intercultural understanding, and support cultural development around the world.

The branch office of Institut Français in the UAE was created in January 2012, in the premises of the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi.-TradeArabia News Service