It’s time to unleash full strength as creative industries surpass global titans. Superstitions from the past endure. Science, business, and finance are “grown-up” issues, according to an antiquated, unwritten rule that many people still adhere to today. Art comes second. After the hard job is done, we turn to culture. Luckily, in 2021, the UAE’s leadership made the decision to confront this antiquated notion with a clear response: a National Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) Strategy that is implementing 40 significant initiatives, 16 of which support talent and creatives with lofty goals—to have the CCI reach 5% of GDP by 2031. It’s not a dream. It is what is ahead for us.
Indeed, our nation recognizes the importance of culture. It frames and propels growth. The economy may be powered by data and energy, but its mastermind is creativity. Technology gains humanity and significance from art in all its manifestations. Steve Jobs, an American inventor and businessman, said it best when he said, “Technology alone is not enough.” Technology combined with the humanities and liberal arts produces outcomes that make our hearts sing. I must make it clear before continuing to support culture: art is valuable in and of itself. In my ideal world, Metro Goldwyn-Mayer’s fabled roaring lion would be surrounded by the slogan “Ars Gratia Artis” (Art for Art’s Sake).
However, I recognize that this may not be sufficient to persuade many, so let’s think at the real advantages that art and culture provide. The external worth of culture It is often known that art has inherent elements that foster empathy, human connection, and shared experiences. However, individuals who are looking for concrete data might choose to start with the extrinsic value of culture. According to UNESCO, culture and creativity already account for 6.2% of worldwide employment and 3.1% of the world’s GDP. According to the Automotive Industry Review (2024), which cites data from the World Bank and OICA, the automobile industry accounts for 3% of the global GDP, which is marginally less than the cultural and creative industries (CCI). The pharmaceutical sector accounts for 0.7% of the world’s GDP.
These numbers make it very evident that creativity is a valuable asset. This information presents the CCI’s business case and explains how they can “supercharge” the economy. However, how can this power be applied to the ground? Here’s where we come in. Our goal at the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation is to use culture to support young people’s creativity and, eventually, build an informed and imaginative society. Every day, we witness how art influences economies, skills, and minds in our educational programs. The creative process develops the critical thinking, problem-solving, resilience, and empathy skills that every future-ready country needs.
Beyond abilities However, art is more than just talent. It’s a perspective. Instead than trying to make everyone an artist, the objective is to encourage everyone to think like one by challenging presumptions, imagining different possibilities, and embracing the unknown rather than sticking to repetition. “The new MBA is the MFA,” stated Daniel Pink. Leadership in the economy of the future will go to individuals who possess both creative intuition and analytical intelligence. Strong arts programs are associated with five to ten percent higher attendance and reduced dropout rates, according to American research. Similar to athletics, art serves as a gateway to education. Our talent pool naturally grows in all areas, not just the arts, when fewer kids are left behind.
For this reason, the core of ADMAF’s purpose has always been education. We collaborate closely with educational institutions to elevate art and creativity beyond the realm of extracurricular activities through programs like Festival in Focus, Festival Academy, Young Media Leaders, and the ADMAF Awards. It’s a method of education. We know that culture is essential to education, but some people consider art to be incidental. Because art teaches us to collaborate and share vision, our programs provide young people with intellectual, emotional, and artistic tools to improve communication and teamwork.
Confidence develops from creativity. Our educational programs have demonstrated how creativity leads to confidence, which spreads. The ecology is stimulated to produce more once the joy of creation is released. Above all, the superpower of culture as an educational instrument is that art gets along with people. Science, fashion, technology, and society are all sources of inspiration for culture. This enables kids to conduct first-hand experiments and fosters interdisciplinary thinking and cross-pollination, the foundation of all scientific and technological advancements, from a young age. Imagination is given wings by art.
Finally, but most definitely not least, art helps us to relearn, which gives the imagination wings, especially in science and technology. Repetition and compliance-based educational methods don’t advance knowledge. We must first unlearn our limitations in order to make fresh scientific discoveries. Choosing to disregard limitations and envision a better future beyond the rainbow is what it means to be a pioneer. That bravery and feeling of reinvention are taught via art. “A country is not measured by the size of its area on the map, but by its heritage and culture,” according to our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. We still use his words as a guide. Culture and art are not development’s afterthoughts. They are the starting point. To further that goal, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation was established. That path has been set by our leadership to make it a reality. It is now up to us, the civil society, to take appropriate action: to begin viewing art as an investment rather than an expense; to make art an active partner rather than a sidekick in education. If we achieve this, art and culture will become the driving forces behind the economy of the future and, beyond that, the cornerstone of a creative civilization that will “make hearts sing” everywhere.
Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo founded the Abu Dhabi Festival and serves as its artistic director. She also founded the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).
