ADACH’s rich cultural program starts on the most important art festival in the Middle East

Assilah,Morocco-The 32nd Assilah Festival opened in Morocco on Saturday 10th July, with the UAE being unveiled as the Official Guest of Honour for the festival, which runs from July 10th to July 27th.

The ceremony - held in the Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Library - was attended by His Majesty Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Abu Dhabi’s ruler representative , Abdul Rahman Al Owais, the UAE Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development , dignitaries, artists and cultural personalities from Morocco, the UAE and around the world..

In a letter from His Majesty Mohammed VI, the Moroccan King welcomed the UAE as the Festival’s Guest of Honour and emphasised the importance of tackling the environmental problems that world faced. He also said that culture “is at least as important in life as material factors, especially in this era of the knowledge and communication-based society.”

The Mayor of Assilah and festival founder Mohamed Benaissa, said:

"I am particularly proud with the participation of the United Arab Emirates. It is great to get to know them on many levels - culturally, scientifically and developmentally.

“Their participation gives this 32nd Assilah Festival special significance. The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Masdar have all made huge efforts to prepare the events that you will see over the coming weeks.

“Our invitation to the UAE was based on our existing fraternal relationship and desire to enhance that. It also represents the gratitude of the citizens of the town of Assilah towards the UAE. Our country is an extension of yours."

These sentiments were echoed by HE Mohammed Mazrouei, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, (ADACH): “The organizers of the Assilah festival chose the United Arab Emirates as guest of honour this year because of the prominent position that the country enjoys in the Arab region and throughout the world in promoting the development process by the most effective means, which is through culture, heritage and the arts.

The Assilah Festival is a unique global event, in that it motivates the population and involves it in creating a living space that is supported by culture, rooted in heritage and cultivating artistic growth. ADACH has an extensive programme at Assiah and a significant presence from several exhibitions, to the screenings of Emirati films, poetry, art and discussion programmes on Cultural diplomacy”.

This series of events have been being organised by ADACH under the title of: "Renewable Energy - A Leap Towards Human Development", there will be more than forty-five countries from around the world participating in this year's festival. It is one of the most important art festivals in the Middle East and North Africa and seeks to promote cultural exchange and create a society of open dialogue between different countries. Its ethos is to celebrate the values of peace and tolerance.