warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/Chicago' for 'CST/-6.0/no DST' instead in /home/adachata/public_html/includes/common.inc(1695) : eval()'d code on line 1.
Submitted by admin on 11 July, 2010 - 13:33
Date: 
10 July, 2010

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is pleased to announce the launch of several innovative mobile applications for this year’s Assilah Festival, taking place in Morocco July 10-27, 2010.

ADACH has released applications for Apple’s iPhone and all Google Android devices, as well as a mobile webapp, which will allow many smartphone users to access regularly updated articles, videos and photos from this year’s Assilah Festival.

These applications will allow festival-goers to navigate around Assilah’s streets, offering GPS enabled maps, hotel, restaurant and activity recommendations for Assilah and giving those who are not lucky enough to be in Morocco an opportunity to connect with the festival in a new and meaningful way.

The applications also feature regularly updated Twitter streams, a full directory of events being organized by ADACH and a comprehensive list of speakers and participants.

The applications can be downloaded from iTunes and the Android Marketplace by searching for the name “Assilah2010”. A full list of links is also available on the official ADACH website – www.adach.ae/assilah

An extensive series of events have been 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 culture of open dialogue between different countries. Its ethos is to celebrate the values of peace and tolerance.

The artists will hold a number of exhibitions, workshops and lectures that reflects the latest trends of the art movements across the UAE. The main walls of the town of Assilah are painted white upon which key artists will paint murals.

Dr Sami el Masri, Deputy Director General of ADACH, believes that producing these applications is a fitting way to mark ADACH’s participation in this year’s Assilah Festival.

“We are well aware of the reach and potential that mobile applications have – both in this region and elsewhere in the world. We decided that this year’s Assilah Festival would be an ideal way to promote ADACH and our activities to a digital audience. Our website, www.adach.ae/assilah is a major part of this. The fact that we have been able to release such interactive applications for the iPhone and Android platforms only serves to highlight our commitment to spreading our message and promoting this festival, especially to those people who are unable to see visit for themselves.”

“This is the first time that a festival of this kind has been digitally connected in Africa to this extent. The Assilah Festival is a remarkable event, and hopefully these applications along with ADACH’s involvement will bring the experience to a larger audience in Morocco and further afield.”

ADACH, along with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Masdar are representing UAE officially at the Assilah Festival as a guest of honour this year.