Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has revealed programme details of the annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival, being held from February 11th to 21st 2015 in Abu Dhabi city.
Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the festival will celebrate the UAE’s tangible and intangible heritage through a rich, diverse programme featuring guided tours of the Fort, inspiring activities and live performances in the Cultural Foundation Building, in addition to public programmes held on the Festival grounds reflecting various elements of UAE culture.
For this year’s edition of the Festival, the cultural programme is inspired by two themes: Abu Dhabi’s traditional heritage epitomised by the iconic Qasr Al Hosn Fort and its surrounding areas, and the importance of modern heritage showcased in the Cultural Foundation Building through a variety of activities. By attending the Festival, people will have the opportunity to access the iconic Fort and Cultural Foundation Building, participate in architectural, historical and cultural journeys, and be part of one of the capital’s cultural development initiatives.
HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, said: “The 2015 programme was created to offer visitors with a holistic cultural experience, and narrate stories in a compelling, educational, yet engaging manner. The Festival area has been redesigned to include new elements and activities that seamlessly fuse the traditional with the modern. This year, we are looking forward to reopening the doors of the Cultural Foundation Building by activating larger areas within through a rich programme of experiential activities, workshops and performances designed to revive its memory and to introduce the conservation approach for such an important modern heritage building.”
“With Qasr Al Hosn Festival, we are not just celebrating monuments; we are celebrating the people that have carried the story of a nation generation to generation. We are looking to illustrate the importance of conserving the Fort as a symbol of great significance in Emirati history, protecting our national identity and heritage through passing down our most valued traditions. We’re looking to celebrating our recent history through a compelling narrative using modern-day tools to recreate historic experiences,” added HE Sheikh Sultanbin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.
The 2015 Qasr Al Hosn Festival will present the history of Qasr Al Hosn to the visitors through a series of curated programmes such as:
The Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition: A portal to explore the development of Abu Dhabi as a city, as well as the lives of people in Abu Dhabi over time, and recent efforts to conserve the building.
Fort Tours:Visitors will have the opportunity to follow the trail around and within the fort with several key stops along the way which provide unique insight into the history and the work being undertaken to conserve Qasr Al Hosn, as well as giving access for the first time to the living quarters.A poetry recital accompanied by the Rababa and the Oud will be set within the inner Fort.
The National Consultative Council Chamber experience: Visitors will have a chance to access the National Consultative Council Chamber which was the home of both the Abu Dhabi National Consultative Council and the UAE’s Federal National Council and witness first-hand the place which played a pivotal role in the formation of the United Arab Emirates.
A larger area of the Cultural Foundation Building will be opened this year. The Building will host a series of interactive activities celebrating its collective memory and invite the public to participate in activities designed to bring the building back to life, such as:
‘Experiencing the Cultural Foundation Building’ a Tour through the Past, Present and Future of a Modern Heritage Landmark: installations displayed throughout the Cultural Foundation Building areas will draw on many senses; sight, sound, and movement, in the form of an experiential self-guided tour supported by didactic panels to revive and celebrate the memory of this treasured landmark and raise awareness on the importance of conserving Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage.
The ‘Lest We Forget: Structures of Memory in the United Arab Emirates’ Exhibition: Commissioned by Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, this exhibition seeks to archive the history of architectural and urban development in the UAE over the past century.
Performances at the reopened Amphitheatreincluding: the revival of Emirati folk songs; ‘Cinema Emaratiya’ hosting a portfolio of short films that have been produced by Twofour54; and, a sand art performance accompanied by Emirati Rababa live music.
Several arts and crafts workshops for visitors across different age groups; and
The return of the popular ‘Gahwa’ where visitors can experience the shared coffee drinking traditions in a beautiful contemporary setting.
Passing on the knowledge and traditions of the past has always been at the heart of the festival identity, and its impact on young Emiratis now comes full circle as the festival involves schools and university students in the experience. A tailored school programme is in place, in which students get the chance to explore the fort and the festival activities through pre-organized morning visits, in addition to the Qasr Al Hosn Ambassadors programme that invites students from different universities in Abu Dhabi to add their voices to the older generations of craftsmen. Over the years, the festival has become a platform for cultivating the arts, music and poetry scene among Emirati artists. Several Emiratis artists from across the UAE have been specially commissioned to produce artworks inspired by the theme of Emirati culture and heritage, and to participate in various poetry and music performances throughout the festival.
source: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
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