The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the emirate’s dedicated entity to promote culture, heritage and the arts, will mark the first showcase in the UK of its inspiring ‘Dubai Next’ talks on the sidelines of Shubbak Festival on July 23.

London's largest biennial festival of contemporary Arab arts and culture will take place at The Serpentine Gallery, followed by a networking reception.

A platform aimed at highlighting the vibrant creative scene of Dubai and its cultural ethos, Dubai Next sessions were most recently held by Dubai Culture at the opening week of Expo Milano 2015 and during the 56th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia.

The events gained tremendous response from the international cultural community with all Dubai Next talks being well-attended and visitors expressing keen interest in gaining a greater understanding of Dubai’s cultural scene and its ambitious strides in the creative sector.

The London edition is being organised in partnership with Vision Magazine - a quarterly publication offering fresh perspectives from Dubai. Over 100 high-profile cultural leaders and artists are expected to attend the event.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice chairman, said: “Under the visionary guidance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the city has today established its firm credentials as global hub for inspiring creativity covering all sectors – from design to visual arts, performing arts, literature, film and music.

“Dubai Next is a global initiative of Dubai Culture to underline the commitment of the city to nurturing creative talent and intercultural dialogue, and to highlight the tremendous opportunities for the creative industry to flourish.”

“Dubai Next will be an inspiring discussion that will especially shed light on how Dubai’s focus on creativity positively impacts the livability of the city and its ability to attract global enterprises, talent and visitors. The experts will share valuable insights on how creativity builds on the ethos of cities with specific insights on Dubai and London,” she said.

The confirmed panelists at the Dubai Next panel discussion in London include Cyril Zammit, fair director of Design Days Dubai, the international fair for purchasable and highly desirable works of modern and contemporary design, who is currently also heading Dubai Design Week; Rashid Bin Shabib, co-founder of Brownbook, a publication highlighting the values and subjects relevant to the greater Middle East; Scott Cain, chief business officer of Future Cities Catapult, which accelerates urban ideas to grow the economy and make cities better; and Paul Ownes, co-founder of BOP Consulting, an international consultancy specialising in culture and the creative economy.

They will discuss the increasing recognition of the critical role creativity and innovation play in terms of a city’s ability to foster future prosperity.

They will also discuss and identify trends in creativity in cities, including the conditions that enable creativity to flourish and the approaches, whether top-down or bottom-up, which can help to create these conditions with specific insights from Dubai and London.


Dubai Next further builds on Dubai Culture’s strategic approach of celebrating the city’s culture, history and heritage while developing a contemporary, creative and innovative environment to foster future prosperity. - TradeArabia News Service