Al Hosn Festival is set to take place from December 12 to 19.
The first-ever event promises to offer a new cultural experience that reflects and reimagines Abu Dhabi’s heritage annually.
A dynamic programme for all ages on offer, with innovative performances, art, traditional crafts, and design throughout the eight days.
Here are six things to check out if you’re heading to Qasr Al Hosn this weekend.
Explore Emirati history through a ‘living museum’
The Qasr Al Hosn area will celebrate Emirati heritage across storytelling, intangible heritage and artisanal crafts and will transform into a living museum, offering re-enactments of the daily lives of the women, men and children who lived and worked in the palace in the last century.
Take part in a workshop
The House of Artisans will host a wide range of workshops around Emirati handicrafts such as burqa design, dyeing natural fibres and tote printmaking, amongst others. Youcan also enjoy and learn about traditional Emirati performances such as Al Ayyala, Al Razfa, and Al Naham, and participate in crafts and Emirati culinary competitions. The Cultural Foundation will also be hosting performing arts, visual art exhibitions, art workshops, and children’s activities in the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library.
Shop for goods from local artisans
The open communal area situated between the two landmark buildings of Qasr Al Hosn and the Cultural Foundation will be activated with immersive art pavilions, music performances, design, retail, and culinary offerings.
Explore some art commissions
During the festival, three new site-specific art commissions will be revealed in Al Hosn’s outdoor areas. The Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem’s Directions, ‘From Place to Place’; Korean artist Jeongmoon Choi’s Drawing in Space; and The Bean Bag by artist collective XPOZE will be welcoming visitors through immersive art experiences.
Watch a film
The outdoor area will also be home to open-air film screenings throughout the days of the festival, programmed by Cinema Akil x Chaiwala, as well as live demonstrations and activations in the oasis and water feature areas, reflecting on Abu Dhabi’s diverse desert and coast traditions.
Enjoy some live entertainement
A series of events in the Cultural Foundation Theatre and outdoor Amphitheatre include performances by the Jordanian Arabic rock band and music project JadaL, the Argentinian dance company Che Malambo and the music duo Maywa Denk; plus events for children, including screenings of a number of classic kids’ films and performances by Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic co-production of the American TV series Sesame Street.
Dhs30 (adults), Dhs15 (kids aged five-12). Dec 12-19. Al Hosn, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Streeet, alhosn.ae/.
