Abu Dhabi Festival 2012

Abu Dhabi Festival announces top Global Talent

Celebrating its ninth edition in 2012, the Abu Dhabi Festival has confirmed its place amongst the UAE’s cultural calendar highlights by announcing a stellar programme of world-leading artistic talent. The Abu Dhabi Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the ninth edition of Abu Dhabi Festival will run from March 11 to April 6 at schools and colleges in the UAE capital. Speaking at the launch of the Festival’s latest edition, Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “The Abu Dhabi Festival 2012, under the theme of ‘Connecting Cultures’ marks the ninth edition. With more than 18 participating countries represented in the programme, the Festival this year consolidates its determination to realise the vision of the UAE; that being bilateral relations and cultural understanding that embraces the world.”
Through the theme ‘Connecting Cultures’ the Abu Dhabi Festival acknowledges the important role artistic expression plays in building partnerships of mutual understanding between people from diverse cultures and traditions. Central to the theme is cultural partnerships. Over the last nine years, the Festival has built partnerships across the seven Emirates and globally distinguished arts and cultural organisations in order to achieve today’s position of strength.
The Country of Honour this year will be the United Kingdom, a country with whom the Festival has established a number of notable strategic partnerships, including the Royal Opera House, Manchester International Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. Three outstanding collaborations and seven events making their Arab world debut will represent the country during the Festival.  Creations, concerts and compositions reflect the Festival’s never-ending thirst for knowledge, so eloquently reflected in the region’s poetry and literature.