Culture Summit Abu Dhabi

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is a summit that convenes leaders from the worlds of the arts, media, public policy, and technology.

It is organized and produced by The Rothkopf Group (TRG) and The Canales Project Ventures (TCPV), along with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism.

Culture Summit 2018 took place at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE throughout April 8-12, 2018, and was focused on the theme of “Unexpected Collaborations.” The event featured a series of curated performances, exhibits, and interventions by renowned artists and musicians across the world. The performances came from everywhere from European Union Youth Orchestra to Abu Dhabi’s Bait Al Oud musical academy, with new collaborations transcending disciplinary and cultural boundaries.

Organization
The Summit was planned with an intention of being the "Davos of culture" and a place "to highlight the power of collective imagination as a force for good."

Participants
The 2017 inaugural event was attended by 450 delegates from 80 countries, including internationally acclaimed visual artist Idris Khan, Academy Award-winning composer and conductor Tan Dun, former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, MacArthur Fellow and award-winning choreographer Liz Lerman, His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Dr. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It was however, criticized for excluding a lot of local Emirati artists. CultureSummit 2017 hosted representatives from the following organizations:


 * Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
 * Arab Fund for Arts and Culture
 * Bahrain Authority on Culture and Antiquities
 * China National Symphony Orchestra
 * Culture Connect
 * El Sistema
 * Ford Foundation
 * Found Sound Nation
 * International Music Council
 * John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
 * New York University Abu Dhabi Arts Center
 * Sesame Workshop
 * Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
 * Art Basel/Tate Modern
 * UNESCO
 * Vienna Boys' Choir
 * Weill Center for Music, Carnegie Hall
 * West–Eastern Divan Orchestra