emirates7 - The Ministry of Culture has announced the recipients of the National Grant Programme for Culture and Creativity—Cycle 2, which began in August 2023. A total of AED 3,296,300 has been allocated to support 43 Emirati talents across various cultural and creative fields.
The programme is designed to bolster the nation's commitment to fostering its cultural and creative sectors by investing in individuals who are crucial for developing and enhancing the creative economy.
The first cycle of the programme attracted significant interest, but the second cycle saw an even higher number of applications, particularly from projects aligned with sustainable development goals. The quality of submissions improved, and there was greater diversity among applicants in terms of age, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The selected beneficiaries are distributed across four categories: Creation and Production, Promotion and Local Participation, Capacity Development, and International Travel and Mobility. The recipients represent a range of fields, including writing and publishing, film and television, music, visual arts and design, performing arts and theatre, cultural heritage, and video games.
Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, commented on the programme's success, noting the enthusiastic participation and the high caliber of talent. He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting and advancing the skills and projects of these individuals to foster the growth of the cultural and creative industries in the UAE.
In the Creation and Production category for Visual Arts and Design, grants were awarded to Jumairi, Sheikha Al Mazrou, Jumana Al Hashemi, Asma Balhamar, and Moza Al Matroushi. Amina Al Jarman Al Ali was granted funds in the International Travel and Mobility category. Shahad Al Kaabi, Aisha Al Hammadi, and Muhammad Al Suwaidi received grants for Capacity Development.
In Music, the Creation and Production grants went to Arqam Al Abri, Ihab Darwish, Mansour Al Hira, and Hamad Al Taie, while Nada Al Aidaroos received a Capacity Development grant. For film and television, grants in Creation and Production were awarded to Iman Al Sayed, Fadel Al Muhairi, Hanaa Kazim, Abdullah Hassan Ahmed, Ibrahim Estadi, Nayla Al Khaja, and Ali Al-Sharif.
In Writing and Publishing, the Creation and Production grants were given to Salem Al Suwaidi, Sarah Al Muhairi, Marwan Al Falasi, Bodour Rashidi, Fatima Al Alili, and Ola Al Lawz.
The Promotion and Local Participation grants were awarded to Mohammed Al Habsi, Maryam Juma, Halima Al Sayegh, Dr. Ali Abdullah Fares, Alia Al Shamsi, and Dr. Maryam Al Hashemi.
For Performing Arts and Theatre, grants were given to Sheikha Sarah Al Qasimi, Samir Al Balushi, and Shahad Al Saqqaf in Creation and Production; Rashid Al Nuaimi in Capacity Development; and Muhammad Al Abdouli and Muhammad Juma Ali in Promotion and Local Participation.
In the field of cultural heritage, grants were awarded to Amna Al Shamsi for Capacity Development, and Maha Al Neyadi and Amna Al Qubaisi for Creation and Production. Hamad Khoury received a Creation and Production grant for video games.
The programme is designed to bolster the nation's commitment to fostering its cultural and creative sectors by investing in individuals who are crucial for developing and enhancing the creative economy.
The first cycle of the programme attracted significant interest, but the second cycle saw an even higher number of applications, particularly from projects aligned with sustainable development goals. The quality of submissions improved, and there was greater diversity among applicants in terms of age, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The selected beneficiaries are distributed across four categories: Creation and Production, Promotion and Local Participation, Capacity Development, and International Travel and Mobility. The recipients represent a range of fields, including writing and publishing, film and television, music, visual arts and design, performing arts and theatre, cultural heritage, and video games.
Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, commented on the programme's success, noting the enthusiastic participation and the high caliber of talent. He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting and advancing the skills and projects of these individuals to foster the growth of the cultural and creative industries in the UAE.
In the Creation and Production category for Visual Arts and Design, grants were awarded to Jumairi, Sheikha Al Mazrou, Jumana Al Hashemi, Asma Balhamar, and Moza Al Matroushi. Amina Al Jarman Al Ali was granted funds in the International Travel and Mobility category. Shahad Al Kaabi, Aisha Al Hammadi, and Muhammad Al Suwaidi received grants for Capacity Development.
In Music, the Creation and Production grants went to Arqam Al Abri, Ihab Darwish, Mansour Al Hira, and Hamad Al Taie, while Nada Al Aidaroos received a Capacity Development grant. For film and television, grants in Creation and Production were awarded to Iman Al Sayed, Fadel Al Muhairi, Hanaa Kazim, Abdullah Hassan Ahmed, Ibrahim Estadi, Nayla Al Khaja, and Ali Al-Sharif.
In Writing and Publishing, the Creation and Production grants were given to Salem Al Suwaidi, Sarah Al Muhairi, Marwan Al Falasi, Bodour Rashidi, Fatima Al Alili, and Ola Al Lawz.
The Promotion and Local Participation grants were awarded to Mohammed Al Habsi, Maryam Juma, Halima Al Sayegh, Dr. Ali Abdullah Fares, Alia Al Shamsi, and Dr. Maryam Al Hashemi.
For Performing Arts and Theatre, grants were given to Sheikha Sarah Al Qasimi, Samir Al Balushi, and Shahad Al Saqqaf in Creation and Production; Rashid Al Nuaimi in Capacity Development; and Muhammad Al Abdouli and Muhammad Juma Ali in Promotion and Local Participation.
In the field of cultural heritage, grants were awarded to Amna Al Shamsi for Capacity Development, and Maha Al Neyadi and Amna Al Qubaisi for Creation and Production. Hamad Khoury received a Creation and Production grant for video games.