The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi attracts more than 100,000 students with educational art and culture programmes across the emirate - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi attracts more than 100,000 students with educational art and culture programmes across the emirate

10 Oct, 2019

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi is dedicated to engaging audiences, especially students, in cultural education programmes that are designed to enhance the accessibility to Abu Dhabi’s culture and heritage, and in order to nurture the younger generations’ artistic skills and creativity at an early age. The education and outreach programmes being conducted by Abu Dhabi’s numerous cultural institutions are having a wide-reaching and significant impact, where numbers compiled for 2019 show that more than 100,000 children, students and members of the public attended or participated in the many programmes, activities and events on-offer across the emirate.
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Dhabi, said: “One of the core missions of DCT Abu Dhabi is to nurture artistic talent and foster the cultural consciousness of all residents of the emirate, particularly young people, through providing equitable access to all forms of culture. Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape has undergone a drastic transformation in recent years, with the opening of several new world-class museums and cultural centres. These institutions are offering a hugely varied and dynamic selection of educational programming, supporting children and students to engage with, contextualise, and appreciate the myriad cultural experiences on offer. The numbers we are reaching through outreach and programmes are heartening, and evidence that we are building the next generation of artists and cultural enthusiasts.”

DCT Abu Dhabi initiatives
Education and outreach are intrinsic to DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural agenda, with heritage, visual arts and performing arts programmes all supported by interpretation and educational tools that engage different segments of society, particularly youth and students. Educational activities and resources aim to provide educators, families and parents with the tools to raise awareness of art and heritage, instilling in the next generation the ability to both have pride in their identity and embrace cultural differences.
DCT Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), runs the Talent Development Programme to support students and develop the artistic capital of Abu Dhabi. Its main objectives are to identify and nurture the artistic development of gifted and talented students; support students in their pursuit of academic success in the arts; facilitate access to a year-round dynamic arts enrichment programme; and ensure academic excellence among students to guarantee entry into specialised colleges and universities.

Hundreds of ADEK teachers have received training about the programme and the use of rubrics to identify students with potential talent. Currently, 233 students are enrolled in the Talent Development Programme, and from this year’s applicants, and additional 80 or more will be selected to participate.

As part of its mission to ensure equitable access to culture on a regular basis to all students, DCT Abu Dhabi also runs its Music in Schools Programme. The programme engages students with music both inside and outside the classroom, ensures equitable access to musical programming in the emirate, and aids in cultivating and building new audiences for music programmes.

Qasr Al Hosn
Historic Qasr Al Hosn fort, now a museum narrating the history of the emirate and its people, offers a variety of educational programming and welcomes school groups with complimentary admission to all areas. Recently, the site hosted students for specialised tours focusing on the Emirati Majlis, as part of the Majlis Outreach Programme, with a goal of raising awareness of this UNESCO-inscribed element of intangible cultural heritage. The 'Qasr Al Hosn: Through Young Eyes' exhibition is a display of artworks created by students who visited the fort and reflected on its long history of governance and tolerance.
Qasr Al Hosn also offers demonstrations by Bait Al Gahwa, an in-depth exploration of Arabic coffee which presents each stage of preparation - from roasting, cooling, grounding, and brewing the coffee, and finally, serving etiquette. Next to Qasr Al Hosn is House of Artisans, which offers training courses, educational workshops and other events in an effort to protect and promote the traditional crafts of the UAE.

Cultural Foundation
Part of the Cultural Foundation, the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library’s year-round programming for children and their families is designed to promote literacy, inter-generational sharing, creative thinking and community development. It offers STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art and maths) programmes, workshops and exhibitions designed to encourage creativity and the development of lifelong learning skills.

The newly reopened Cultural Foundation’s extensive facilities include the Children’s Art Centre, aimed at supporting the next generation of artists with a dynamic variety of classes and workshops. As part of the Cultural Foundation’s educational push, tours are being scheduled to bring students to the space, and outreach to universities is being organised.

Louvre Abu Dhabi
Since its launch in November 2017, Louvre Abu Dhabi has made education and outreach a priority, regularly welcoming school groups, travelling to universities to engage professors and students, offering guided youth tours, and hosting an extensive year-round programme of workshops, activities, performances and other events. Each temporary exhibition hosted by the museum includes extensive educational and outreach for students and children. The museum also holds Educators’ Circles which provide teachers with educational resources, and issues tailored invitations to special groups such as orphans and Children of Determination.
Innovative programming includes A Costume Adventure at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Children’s Museum, a recently launched interactive adventure game for children aged 4 - 10 inspired by the clothing portrayed in artworks from the museum’s permanent galleries. Family weekend sees Louvre Abu Dhabi focusing on children and their loved ones, with fun-filled activities for the entire family taking place on the last weekend of every month. Free activities for kids and families include drop-in workshops, mini-tours, film screenings, interactive performances, and more.