The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announces Culture Summit 2021’s theme, ‘The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture’ - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announces Culture Summit 2021’s theme, ‘The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture’

24 Feb, 2021

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that the next edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, a leading global forum which explores creative cultural solutions to the most pressing issues affecting the world today, will take place virtually from 8 to 10 March and explore the theme of ‘The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture’.

The fourth edition of the forum will bring together cultural leaders, practitioners and experts from the fields of art, heritage, museums, media and technology to generate new strategies and thinking, and identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide.

“The global challenges of the past year have truly demonstrated the vital power of culture to improve our personal and collective wellbeing. Yet, cultural institutions worldwide continue to struggle to achieve funding structures to continue operating. It is now more important than ever to shed light on the critical role that the culture sector plays as an essential driver of sustainable economic and social development,” said HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi. “We are proud to collaborate with top global cultural partners to convene renowned professionals from a variety of fields, ensuring the level and breadth of expertise needed for fruitful discussions and effective, goal-oriented outcomes.

“This year’s theme strongly reflects the focus on culture and creative industries as a major driver of growth. While addressing what is certainly a global issue, the outcomes of this year’s summit will be of particular relevance as we come together to discuss the impact of innovation on the economies of culture.”

HE Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “A thriving creative ecosystem is the beating heart of a city, affecting and enhancing all facets of a society. Culture Summit’s annual convening of world-class experts and professionals from interrelated fields consistently puts forward innovative solutions in response to critical cultural and economic issues. Following a year of truly unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to the dialogue and innovations sparked by our esteemed global partners and participants at the event’s virtual fourth edition, as we discuss ways to support the continuity of the cultural sector, both locally and worldwide.”

Financial support and sustainability in the culture sector in the face of rapid societal and economic change was a key issue identified by many of the 480 participants in Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2019. Inspired by these discussions and in line with UNESCO’s 2021 ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’, Culture Summit 2021 will examine opportunities to renew the cultural and creative industries in a post-COVID environment and explore how the creative economy can be a positive force for societies and economies.

Culture Summit’s global partner organisations bring extensive expertise in diverse fields, spanning from culture and arts to media, technology and the economy. Existing partners include UNESCO, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, the Economist Events, and Google. New partners for 2021 include the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Design Museum London, and the participation of UAE institutions such as Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Institut Français, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, twofour54, and Abu Dhabi Film Commission.

Those looking to attend Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2021 can register on the website: www.culturesummitabudhabi.com. The summit attendance is free and open to the public.