The group will also host two events during the week.
As part of its UAE 50th celebrations, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) will presenting a special edition of Hekayah / The Story on 24 November.
Taking place on the NYUAD website at 6.30pm, the programme brings together poets, spoken-word artists, musicians and storytellers from diverse backgrounds and cultures and will feature a conversation between NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann and Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the UAE University His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh.
Following the conservation, audiences will be treated to a mix of live and video performances by Rami AbuAmmuna (poetry) Jawad Al Bdiwi (music); Safeya Alblooshi (sound art); Shilpa Ananth (music); Amro Bakri (music); Farah Chamma (poetry, music); Rand Farmawi (ancient Arabic and folk songs); Rakaya Fetuga (poetry); Ahmed T. El-Gaili (Arabic poetry); Randa Omar Haidar (music); Mahmoud Kaabour (poetry and documentary photography); Enid Mollel (pop and contemporary RnB music); TheVokeys: Abdullah Alshams (NotSoHuman), Preston D’costa, and Fahim (jazz, RnB, pop and rock music).
Speaking on the upcoming event Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director at NYUAD Arts Center said the lineup of artists captures the fabric of the UAE.
He said: “Hekayah has special meaning for us, as the event captures how the arts can celebrate diverse cultures and backgrounds and bring our community even closer together through sharing stories and songs that speak to the themes of nation, home, family, and heritage.
“The impressive lineup of artists chosen to celebrate UAE’s 50th anniversary beautifully capture the spirit of UAE itself and its inspiring and wonderful diversity. We are especially moved that several of the artists chose to create new pieces especially for the occasion, contributing to the growth of the nation’s creative output and future artistic legacy.
“Opening the evening with a talk with His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, who has played such an important role in promoting the arts and culture as part of the UAE’s identity throughout the entirety of the nation makes this Jubilee edition even more notable.”
But the 24 November event isn’t the only Hekayah happening at NYUAD Arts Center.
On 22 November at 1pm, The Arts Center in conjunction with NYUAD Art Gallery and NYUAD Career Development Center will host the Arts Chat: Building a Life as an Artist in the UAE (Part 2).
The event will see Rami AbuAmmuna, Professor of Visual Arts at NYUAD, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Farah Chamma and Egyptian artist Iama share their journeys in creating work for UAE’s diverse audiences.
There will also be a creators’ workshop at 6pm on 23 November where documentary filmmakers Mahmoud Kaabour (Champ of the Camp, Teta Al Marra) and Denise Holloway will showcase their Satwa Stories project which depicts the hidden gems and much-loved characters of Dubai’s Al Satwa neighbourhood.
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