|
||||||||||||
Abu Dhabi Festival Begins Festival Debate Series With An International Panel Of Cultural Pioneers |
||||||||||||
|
The Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 has hosted the first in a series of Festival Debates (Riwaq Al Fikr) to nurture the intellectual appetite of the city. Called ‘The Festival Effect’ and hosted by BBC World’s Nima Abu Wardeh, the debate on 21 March attracted around 30 leading cultural players from the UAE and around the world. They were there to interact with four pioneers of leading festivals from around the world on the role of festivals. “It does not matter who and why people get involved with festivals. What is important is the result. The endgame should be about festivals helping people to come together, accepting our differences and contributing to living peacefully together. Forging genuine and sincere bonds and creating better understanding and knowledge are most important.” She also added that: “There is energy in Abu Dhabi around the cultural agenda and our festival brings everyone together built on our chosen theme of respect. A new chapter is being written here and we’re writing it together. If just one person starts to think differently after a performance or experience, that is success for me.” Alex Poots talked about how festivals started in the last century: “Festivals like those in Edinburgh started in Europe post World War II to help find harmony through culture. Festivals continue to be an important platform for creative people to have a voice. In our festival in Manchester, we have a wide range of artists from ballet to rap. In every genre there are good and bad artists. We only want the best people in their field. That way we can attract the widest audience.” Waldemar Dabrowski talked about his experience of Abu Dhabi during the debate: “Abu Dhabi fascinates me. It is one place in the world where energy is being concentrated and the level of ambition is impressive.” About the ‘Festival Effect’ he said: “Festivals are just one part of culture. But they are a time that can intensify the focus on the arts. For many it is the first time they may come to a cultural event and if we can make sense of it for them, they will return.” Peter Scarlet who comes from the US originally talked of why he moved to Abu Dhabi: “In Abu Dhabi, culture is being taken seriously. Here we are on the cusp of a future unlike anywhere else in the world. In some of the more provocative moments of the evening, Peter added: “Not all festivals are good. All festivals should stand for something like all those represented here tonight. But we should get rid of those festivals that spring up for cynical reasons – perhaps with a dose of ‘festicide’!”
|
||||||||||||
