United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi Cultural Village
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Geography
Abu Dhabi (literally "father of gazelle") is the capital of and the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi city is geographically located on the north-eastern part of the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast, located less than 250 metres from the mainland. The city proper, making up an area of 67,340 km², had an estimated population of 860,000 in 2007.
Abu Dhabi has a hot arid climate. Sunny blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months of April through September are generally hot and humid with maximum temperatures averaging above 40°C. During this time, sandstorms also occur intermittently, in some cases reducing visibility down to a few metres.
Culture
Abu Dhabi has a diverse and multicultural society. The city’s cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogenous pearling community was changed with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals; first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in the 1960s.
Abu Dhabi is home to a number of cultural institutions including the Cultural Foundation and the National Theater. The recently launched Emirates Foundation makes grants in support of the arts, as well as to advance science and technology, education, environmental protection and social development.
Socio-Economic
Abu Dhabi alone generates 15% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is home to important financial institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the corporate headquarters of many companies and numerous multinational corporations. One of the world’s largest producers of oil, Abu Dhabi has actively attempted to diversify its economy in recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Abu Dhabi is the third most expensive city in the region, and 26th most expensive city in the world.
This unique socio economic development in the Persian Gulf has meant that Abu Dhabi is generally more liberal than its neighbours. While Islam is the main religion, Emiratis have been known for their tolerance; Christian churches, Hindu temples, and Sikh Gurdwara can be found alongside mosques.
Project Aim
Focusing on the Emirati national women and the preservation of the crafts, heritage and skills unique to this part of the world.
- Proposal of Cultural Village will have the capacity to serve as a focused environment for the women of Abu Dhabi.
- Promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices.
- Provide discussions, to encourage positive thinking and to build and nurture an active role for women working in the area of culture, cultural education, arts and media.
- Foster co-operation and exchanges among women’s organisations; to maintain dialogue between different women organisations through the creation of an Abu Dhabi Cultural Village Network.
- Preserve, promote and educate their cultural knowledge and skills.
- Income generating activities through arts, crafts and cultural/eco tourism.
Objectives
Emirati National women and the preservation of the crafts, heritage and skills unique to the Arab world and specifically for the United Arab Emirates provided through a Cultural Village.
- Establish a library dedicated to women, arts, culture and crafts.
- Recognition and awards - UNESCO SEAL of Excellence or ‘Hall of Fame” awards.
- Establish: a range of workshops, lecture theatres; vocational training workshops; museum; exhibition spaces.
- Publication of books for children to document and illustrate traditional skills and handicrafts.
- Encourage school groups, children and families to come and learn.
- Adoption of Cultural Village subject matter to the local school curriculum.
Physical Facilities Required
Construction of Cultural Village to be based on traditional vernacular architecture and modern building design while providing:
- Multipurpose facilities; Museum; Market spaces; Display areas; Lecture halls; Learning center; Library; Kitchens; Production facilities; Exhibition spaces; Workshops; Café; Restaurant; Gift shop; Housing accommodation; Daycare center; Garden; Meeting points/room; Assembly rooms.
- Access to public transportation; Point of contact reception; Large scale map/model; Wind Towers; Souks; Cobble Stone walkways; Waterways with bridges.
- Zones for specific needs i.e. commercial, residential, retail, education, entertainment, hospitality etc.
Sustainable Tourism
- Organization - a look at the mission and philosophy of how to carry out the work, program planning and organizational capacity building
- Artists in community – roles of artists and craft people, the relationship to the Cultural Village, qualities the organization seek in the artist and how the arts and crafts people are recruited
- Community – defining the Cultural Village community, the relationship with actors/stakeholders and their outreach
- Collaboration – relationship to the mission, goals and outcomes, strategies, types of partners, characteristics of successful collaborations, characteristics of difficult collaborations, plans and prospects.