I commend Ayesha Almazroui on her commentary, In the UAE's year of innovation, don't forget the arts (January 26).
The arts are indeed important and I wholeheartedly agree that initiatives led by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Kevin Spacey’s Middle East Theatre Academy, while laudable, do little to create sustainability.
For the past seven years, I have led a theatre company that has provided opportunities for Emiratis and people of at least 14 other nationalities to express themselves through the medium of theatre.
We participated in the Abu Dhabi Festival and were well supported by ADMAF for that event, but there was no follow-up support. No system exists for ongoing arts funding and sustained support; these initiatives only exist for one-off projects.
However, funding is not the only aspect of arts development in the UAE; cultures and traditions need to be understood and respected.
Many of the Emirati actors who took part in my projects, both male and female, faced family challenges that prevented them from performing in and attending plays.
Maggie Hannan, Abu Dhabi
Artefacts relate region’s history
I refer to Islamic art centre featuring historical pieces opens in Abu Dhabi (January 26).
It would be great to be able to see artefacts from across the Muslim world under one roof. These carpets, paintings and sculptures are all unique, and it is through them that Islamic history is preserved.
Fatima Suhail, Dubai
Victims of war need support
There has been continuing unrest in this region since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and the situation has become more complex in recent times.
The current conflicts in Syria and elsewhere have had a big impact on the younger generation. Women and children are greatly affected.
Conflict has a huge psychological effect on a community. It affects family life and society – education, employment, privacy and recreation. Many people are already traumatised beyond what they can bear.
It is sad that there are not greater international efforts to tackle this problem.
Ramachandran Nair, Oman
Wolves deserve more respect
In the headline Wolves confiscated by Sharjah authorities (January 26), I believe the word that should have been used was "rescued".
These animals are not property, or at least they should not be regarded as such.
Andrew Parker, Dubai
Give public the right number
In reference to Wife lost in mall was one of 6 million 999 calls to police (January 26), people should be made aware of what numbers to call for various reasons.
If they don’t know the correct number, then they will depend on dialling 999.
Matthew Litty, Dubai
Greece faces an uncertain future
Anti-austerity Syriza storms to historic Greek victory (January 26) was an interesting story.
The big question is: will this new government be able to overcome the crisis and bring about much-needed reforms? The people of Greece will have to wait and see.
K Ragavan, India
Honesty rules on Corniche
I feel sorry for the woman whose experience is recounted in Bounce Dubai theft victim warns not to be complacent on safety (January 25).
However, my family has never had anything stolen in the five years we have lived in the UAE.
Once, we forgot to take a purse with us when we left the bench that we had been sitting on at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi.
We went back 20 minutes later and discovered that two young men – we later found out that they were from Pakistan – were sitting on the bench and had put the purse in full sight of everyone passing by.
They told us they would have waited there for two hours to make sure that the purse was returned to its rightful owner. They would not accept our offer of a reward for their act.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi