Time to get involved: Abu Dhabi Festival reaches out to the entire emirate

This is Sydney Opera House presents Babies Proms: Meeting Mozart series of concerts, at Abu Dhabi’s The Club. Courtesy Daniel Boud / Abu Dhabi Festival

The Abu Dhabi Festival is not limited only to the performances at Emirates Palace. Back for its 12th edition, the month-long event aims to reach out to the entire emirate through a variety of educational and cultural projects, catering to young and old.

Pushing this inclusive message is the festival’s recently launched Community Arts Programme, which includes a host of free events in public spaces, universities and galleries.“Inspiring the creativity of our nation’s youth is our duty and joy,” says the festival’s founder and artistic director, Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo. “We are committed to celebrating cultural excellence and extending the benefits of arts education to all.”

A local flavour

More than 100 Emiratis will take on starring roles during the Abu Dhabi Festival, which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. Many of them can be found in the festival’s For the Emirates, By the Emirates series of events, which will be staged across the capital. The Gallery at Emirates Palace will host three exhibitions featuring more than a dozen artists, including Mohammed Kazem, Karima Al Shomaly, Lamya Gargash and Khalil Abdul Wahid.

On the music front, young Emirati virtuosos will take part in the 11th annual Emirates International Peace Music Festival, during which the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra will team up with the Premiere College of Prague Youth Symphony Orchestra and Poland’s Bielsko-­Biala Music School Orchestra for a series of shows across the UAE, beginning in Dubai on March 15 and culminating with a glittering event at the Abu ­Dhabi ­Theatre on March 19. Emirati poets will showcase their literary skills as part of the Word to the Rhythm event on March 21, with local writers reading selections of their work at the Novo Cinema at Abu Dhabi’s World Trade Center.

Those interested in exploring the local film industry need look no further than the Cinema Emirati events at twofour54’s The Space on March 18 and 19. Each night, a locally produced film and documentary will be screened, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.

All over Abu Dhabi

The entire emirate is getting involved in the festival, with a host of family-centred events. Toddlers will love the Sydney Opera House Presents Babies Proms: Meeting Mozart series of concerts, at Abu Dhabi’s The Club.

The Paris-Sorbonne University will host the Abu Dhabi International Poetry Festival on March 19, featuring performances and workshops by leading Emirati and western wordsmiths.

Music lovers should check out Capital Vibes at Yas Marina on March 27 and 28. The two-day music festival will feature a wide range of performers, including singer-songwriters Mohammed Al Awadi and Sarah El Gohary, and rockers Daisy Grim.

Al Ain, meanwhile, will be the hub for family-focused educational events. The popular Ministry of Science Live makes a stop at the Al Ain Municipality Theatre on March 21, while Earth Hour will be celebrated at Hili Fun City on March 28 with a day of engaging science-themed workshops.

Thoughtful discussions

Some of the region’s leading thinkers, diplomats and cultural innovators will descend on Abu Dhabi for the Riwaq Al Fikr festival debates, three of which are open to the public.

On March 7 at Emirates Palace, an esteemed panel will examine the growth of the new media sector. The March 21 gathering at NYU Abu Dhabi will focus on the role that science, technology, engineering and maths can play in the UAE education sector. The final debate, at the same venue on March 27, will look at the value of the UAE’s creative sector in driving economic and social development. All of the debates will be conducted in English with simultaneous Arabic translation.

• The Abu Dhabi Festival runs until April 2. For more details, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae