For the first time, a number of events and exhibitions that have been specifically designed by and for young people will be held under the festival’s Youth@TheFestival platform.
See the work at Ghaf Gallery and in an online Artists’ Studio at www.youtube.com/admaf96. Ghaf Art Gallery, Khalidiya, www.ghafartgallery.com (02 665 5332).
Between March 5 and March 19, The Space at twofour54 will host The Space Sessions to give young people the chance to curate and programme small-scale events across a range of art forms. Three events will take place. Capital Vibes, on March 5, will be a laidback evening of cool tunes, showcasing young Emirati and international musical talent. Highlights include the SAMA Quartet, a Middle Eastern a cappella group, and special guest Hamdan Al Abri, the singer in soul band ABRI. The Hero Inside, on March 12, is a comic arts, animation and digital exhibition by students while The Nation Narrates, on March 19, will feature screenings of three independent Emirati short films.
The Hero Inside, free, 6-9pm, March 12, The Nation Narrates, free, 6-9pm, March 19. Email education@admaf.org to register, The Space, twofour54, www.twofour54.com (02 401 2454).
The 10th Emirates International Peace Music Festival is a nationwide tour by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra from the Premiere Music College of Prague. The tour will feature up to 120 young musicians and a choral group made up of 100 Emiratis who will perform Beethoven’s Symphony Number Nine (Fourth Movement) in Arabic. UAE soloists Umaima Al Shunnar, Khawla Al Rayhy and Meera Ghobash will perform alongside stars from the USA and Japan.
Free. Email community@admaf.org to register and find out more, 8-10pm, March 22, American School, Al Barsha, Dubai, 8-10pm, March 23-24 in Dubai –location still to be confirmed, 7pm, March 25 in Al Ain –location still to be confirmed, 8-10pm, March 27, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island
The featured artist of the UAE National Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, Emirati visual artist Mohammed Kazem will reveal works specifically commissioned for the festival.
Free, all day, March 21-April 20, Emirates Palace Gallery
From March 10 and March 18 Ashtar Theatre, the internationally acclaimed Palestinian theatre company, will embark on its first UAE tour. The theatre will visit schools and special needs centres around Sharjah, Fujairah and Al Ain and host workshops in orphanages and hospitals across all the emirates. It will perform an Arabic-language production of Sinbad and the Monster, which follows the Arabic folk story of Sinbad and his adventures as he learns to protect the planet from pollution.
Free, 7-9.30pm. Email community@admaf.org to register. March 10 at Fujairah Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth & Community Development. March 16 at Great Hall, Crescent Building, UAE University Al Ain
March 18 at Main Auditorium, American University of Sharjah
The Story Mile is written and illustrated by students of Zayed University, who will read it aloud in storytelling sessions. It follows magical monsters who teach lessons about morality and safety such as Umm Al Duwais, Nagat El Eid and Abu Al Salasel, the mythical creature wrapped in chains who uses them as weapons against his prey.
Free, all day, March 3-31, Khalifa Park
Three albums will be released on March 1 in conjunction with the festival. Jordanian artist Macadi Nahhas, best known for reviving long-forgotten Middle Eastern folklore songs with touches of pop, jazz and electronics, will release Macadi on iTunes, Amazon and in shops around the gulf. In addition Lebanese soprano and composer Hiba Al Kawas will release her second album, Sawtiya Ssama, inspired by poetry. Shawams, a box set of four CDs, is a collection of recordings by early 20th century Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian artists specifically chosen and released together. It is produced by the Arabic Music Archive and Research Foundation will be available in music shops.
Music ensemble Decoda will collaborate with young musicians from Abu Dhabi on a new composition inspired by the capital.
Free, 7-8.30pm, March 22, Abu Dhabi Theatre, Breakwater
