Saadiyat Cultural District’s latest campaign encourages dialogue, stimulates critical thinking and inspires creativity
As the rest of the world slowly enters its summer season, creative innovators in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, are opening a global dialogue to announce the continued construction of the Saadiyat Cultural District, a cutting-edge space dedicated to arts, culture and world heritage, set to be completed by the end of 2025.
ADVERTISEMENTThe latest campaign highlights Voices of Advocacy: Perspectives on the Power of Culture, which brings together renowned artists, creators and cultural promoters from around the world to share their unique insights into human creativity and its influence on global cultures.
As the Saadiyat Cultural District nears completion, these voices represent its ambition to become a global hub of innovation, creativity, research and knowledge, serving as a source of creative inspiration for the UAE, the region and the world.
A global cultural movement
The campaign features a range of international figures, including Lord Norman Foster, Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate and Architect of the Zayed National Museum; Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; renowned Emirati artists Mohammed Ibrahim, Najat Makki and Afra Al Dhaheri; multi-award-winning actor, musician and businessman Idris Elba OBE; legendary pianist Lang Lang; Steve Harvey, Maria Sharapova, Gael Hedding, Hussain Al Jassmi, Harvey Mason Jr, Sandhini Poddar, Liu Yifei, Magdelena Moreno, and many more. Together, they discuss the importance of cultural spaces in inspiring and collaborating across generations and borders.
” [Le district n’est] “Not just a center, but a hub, a real meeting place where people from all over the world, of all ages and generations, can come to think about and experiment with new ways of living in the world,” says Alexandra Munroe, curator and founder of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, in her campaign video.
“What moves me most in the world of art and culture is working with artists, thinkers, academics, innovators, architects to help them realize their vision. [C’est] the genius of their visionary thinking, their outlook on contemporary culture, their invention of new forms of responses to the political, social, ecological and psychological realities of our time,” she continues.
ADVERTISEMENT“We believe that culture is the foundation of any forward-looking society,” Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, told Euronews in an exclusive interview. “Everything we do today, we do for tomorrow; we are building a legacy that will create a better future for our youth and future generations.” The district will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region, the Global South and the world.
“When I think about these institutions, I think about how they will inspire my children and millions of other children in the UAE and around the world. How they will provide them with information about their own culture, their own identity, as well as cultures they know little about, and how they will give them a better understanding of our collective culture.”
“If this is done well, the relationships that will result will be very important, because they will bring us all together,” Al Mubarak continued. “These institutions […] highlight humanity, the power of art, the power of culture and make sure that each and every one of us is aware of it. The Saadiyat Cultural District is a place where people can come and learn from the past, understand our present and focus on our future.”
A long-awaited cultural power
Once completed in 2025, the Saadiyat Cultural District will house one of the highest concentrations of cultural institutions, where art, science, nature and technology will coexist.
The District’s world-renowned museums, galleries and other spaces will provide an unparalleled experience of artistic exploration and cultural exchange, and will provide an opportunity to discover the history, heritage and creativity of the region and around the world.
For art lovers, the success of the Louvre Abu Dhabi will soon be matched by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, whose Frank Gehry-designed exterior will house a global collection of modern and contemporary art, primarily devoted to works from West Asia, North Africa and South Asia.
Zayed National Museum will bring to life the stories, history and culture of the UAE and pay tribute to the legacy of the country’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Meanwhile, rare specimens and interactive exhibits at the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum will spark curiosity about the natural world, chronicling the 14-billion-year journey of our universe and the history of life on Earth.
Performance hubs such as Berklee Abu Dhabi foster artistic expression through contemporary music, dance and theatre, as well as educational programs. Meanwhile, the multi-purpose Manarat Al Saadiyat serves as a vibrant community space, hosting major exhibitions as well as numerous creative workshops and events.
Eager to push the boundaries of their artistic offerings, curators at the Saadiyat Cultural District have teamed up with Tokyo-based art collective teamLab to create a space dedicated to a series of large-scale, multi-sensory artworks. Known as teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the futuristic venue will host high-tech experiential exhibitions that will evolve with the environment, ensuring visitors have a unique experience every time they visit.
Arts and culture, a global bridge
As the Voices of Advancement campaign sparks global dialogue, the broader ambitions of the Saadiyat Cultural District are coming to fruition. The district is an example of efforts to foster local cultural development in the UAE for future generations.
ADVERTISEMENTWith over 200 nationalities, Abu Dhabi highlights the role that culture can and must play in building a better future, by opening hearts, minds and perspectives.
Archaeological discoveries in the United Arab Emirates reveal that this region has played a vital and historical role between the civilizations of the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Levant for millennia. Historically, it has been a place where peoples learned to understand each other, cooperate and exchange.
As a global hub of rich cultural heritage, the district promotes equitable access to culture and builds on Abu Dhabi’s long-standing role as a crossroads of civilisations. This hub of cultural innovation and dialogue combines the rich legacy of Abu Dhabi’s past with the endless promise of its future, continuing a legacy of light and progress initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
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