The Ministry of Culture announces the projects that have been granted subsidies to cultural public benefit associations

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Abu Dhabi, 8 December / WAM / The Ministry of Culture announced the list of winning projects within the program for granting subsidies to cultural public benefit societies for the year 2025, which aims to empower cultural societies and support their qualitative initiatives in various fields of arts, heritage and creativity.

The announcement of these projects comes within the framework of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance the role of cultural public benefit associations as a fundamental pillar in the development of the cultural sector, and an important player in delivering arts and heritage to society, especially since the program provides associations with the opportunity to develop innovative initiatives that contribute to supporting local creativity, providing new platforms to empower the talented, and enhancing the presence of cultural events in the various emirates of the country, as these grants are provided in five main categories that include festivals, cultural education, creative production, publishing magazines, and international participation.

His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, said that the Ministry is working to build a sustainable cultural system based on effective partnership between government institutions and society, and cultural associations represent one of the most important engines of this system in light of the qualitative initiatives they provide that reflect the authenticity of the Emirati identity, and contribute to empowering talent, building a conscious and creative generation, and enhancing our country’s presence in various cultural platforms locally and globally.

He added that the winning projects this year highlight the associations’ ability to innovate initiatives and projects that meet the needs of the cultural scene and respond to its priorities. These projects also reflect the vital partnership between the Ministry and the associations in supporting programs that open new horizons for creativity, prepare cultural production in the country, and contribute to conveying the voice of Emirati culture in contemporary ways to the public inside and outside the country.

The list of winning projects this year included a number of distinguished initiatives presented by cultural associations, and they were chosen for their innovative ideas, societal impact, and ability to contribute to developing the cultural scene and enhancing community participation. The cultural festivals category witnessed the victory of five prominent projects, including the “Ras Al Khaimah Festival for the Arts of Al-Ayyala” organized by the Ras Al Khaimah Folklore and Rowing Society, the “From the Inheritance of the Ancestors” festival of the Folklore Arts and Theater Society in Umm Al Quwain, and the “Qaidh Dibba” festival. For the Dibba Society for Culture, Arts and Theater, and the “Zawaya Festival for Cultural Creativity” for the Emirates Society for Social Development, the Emirates Library and Information Association also won the grant to organize the Emirati Libraries Forum.

In the cultural education category, grants were won by the EMA Music Center of the Emirates Musicians Association, the Mald Art and Harbiye Art Workshops Project of the Dubai Folk Arts Society, the Folk Arts Course of the Umm Al Quwain Folk Heritage Society, the “Green Reading Initiative” of the Society for the Protection of the Arabic Language, and the Emirates Children’s Theater Festival of the Dramatists Association.

Within the creative production category, the grants included a number of theatrical and artistic works, including “Cries from the Abyss” by the Kalba Folklore and Theater Society, “Upside Down” by the Yas Society for Culture and Arts, a social theatrical work by the Dubai National Theater, “City of Dreams” by the Khor Fakkan Arts Theater, “The Land of Elias” by the Fujairah Theater. The grants also included the free studio project and art exhibitions for the Emirates Fine Arts Society, in addition to the integrated theatrical cycle for the Umm Al Quwain National Theater, and the association’s summer activities program. Dibba Al Hisn for Culture, Heritage and Theater, and the Al Sanaa Initiative of the Ajman Folk Arts and Theater Society.

In the publications category, the grants included the Al-Nadba magazine project for the Al-Shuhouh Society for National Heritage, and the Nakheel Magazine project for the Nakheel Society for Folklore Art and Heritage, which are two publications that contribute to enhancing cultural and heritage documentation through specialized content in a modern format.

The Ministry also supported the Al-Nadba Art Documentation Project of the Al-Shahouh Society for Culture and Heritage, which aims to prepare specialized studies to register this ancient Emirati art as an element of the intangible heritage of UNESCO.

The participation of Sharjah National Theater in a number of local and Arab events was also supported, including the Desert Theater Festival, the Emirates Children’s Theater Festival, and Carthage Theater Days.