Celebrate International Museum Day in Abu Dhabi

Azza al Qubaisi, Artist and Social Enterprenuer at her office in Abu Dhabi in 2011. Ravindranath K / The National

To mark International Museum Day, Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi will run a series of workshops on collection, preservation and recycling in Abu Dhabi. Organised by Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, Al Qubaisi will teach her students, both children and adults, to work with old trimmed palm leaves and sand and use the recycled material to make innovative pieces of art

International Museum Day began in 1977 and is held every year on May 18 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society.

This year, the theme is Museums for a sustainable society, hence the choice of artist. One of the most important contemporary challenges shared by people all over the world is to adapt new ways of living and developing within the limits of nature. This transition towards a sustainable society requires inventing new methods of thinking and acting. Museums play a key role in this transition, promoting sustainable development and serving as real laboratories for best practices.

Al Qubaisi, whose workshops will take place in Mushrif Central Park will also learn, from a park representative about the park’s philosophy of keeping and replanting old trees. Some of Al Qubaisi’s work will also be displayed in the park.

• There are two workshops open to the community on May 18. They run from 5pm-6.30pm and from 7pm-8.30pm. They are located at Exhibition Hall #2, Mushrif Central Park. Participants will be admitted on first come, first served basis and the workshops are open to all ages