Attended by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State

Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 17, 2022: Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) announced the winners of its 2020 awards in the fields of visual arts, literature and design. The list of Emirati winners included artist Aisha Khalfan Al Mehairi, writer Reem Al Menhali, visual artist Maitha Al Omaira, and artist Noura Al Serkal.
The awards were handed out by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State. The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, along with representatives of L’Ecole Van Cleef and Arpels; Gulf Capital, the leading alternative investment company in GCC and Asia; TotalEnergies; and several senior officials and culture partners.

H.E. Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “Since its inception, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation has supported the creative development of our nation’s youth, empowering them to realise their dreams and ambitions. The Foundation was the first to provide workshops, awards and educational internships abroad for Emirati students which continue to inspire many young minds to be creative, to question and explore. We are pleased to partner with our sponsors to present the ADMAF Awards which recognise the accomplishments and talents of our youth and encourage them to seek the arts as a form of expression. By rewarding their creative excellence, we further drive innovation and contribute to the development of the UAE’s culture and creative industries”.

The TotalEnergies Design Commision Award, launched in 2013 to support Emirati young talents in visual arts, theater, literature, animation, and cinema, was awarded to Emirati artist Aisha Khalfan Al Mheiri for her work, “Emirati Food Culture”, inspired by Emirati cultural identity and heritage.

 “Our association with Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation has been a long standing one. It is aligned along one of the major TotalEnergies Foundation's priority of focus, supporting Cultural Dialogue and Heritage. Every opportunity to give a fresh impetus to young Emiratis is instilled with the firm commitment to make sure their talents are vital and are shown and help them achieve their full potential. By promoting talent in the field of arts education, community arts and special projects through ADMAF, we can reach  a diverse group of young Emiratis giving them unique opportunities each time to craft their mind with innovation and creativity!” said Elias Kassis President of TotalEnergies E&P UAE and TotalEnergies Country Chair in the UAE.

The Gulf Capital-ADMAF Creativity Award was launched in 2006 to celebrate the creativity of Emirati youth in visual & performance arts, literature, and cinema. The award was presented to NYUAD graduate and writer Reem Al Menhali for her playscript, “Departure”. Inspired by the elements of beauty, acceptance, and tolerance the UAE is known for, “Departure” features a seamless combination of the English and Arabic languages, telling the life story of a woman, from childhood, adulthood, to old age.

Emirati visual artist Maitha Al Omaira won the Gulf Capital – Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award for her work “Phases”. Launched in 2013, the award recognises outstanding Emirati creativity in the visual arts, performing arts, literature, animation, and film. Al Omaira’s work is inspired by astronomy and poetry, covering different literature elements and their connections to the world around us, with special focus on subjective and objective states of mind.
Dr Karim El Solh, Co-Founder and CEO of Gulf Capital said at the ceremony: “We are delighted to be a long-term supporter of the Emirati art and culture scene through our partnership with ADMAF and the Abu Dhabi Festival. The Festival is an excellent platform for budding Emirati artists looking at starting a career in creative and performing arts. ADMAF offers them a solid launch-pad and a wide network that can help them plan the next phase of their professional life. Gulf Capital has a long tradition of supporting Emirati art and culture and we would like to congratulate all the winners of the ADMAF Design and Creativity Awards.”     
Established in 2019, the ADMAF Design Fund in support of L’École Van Cleef & Arpels aims to support co-creativity and bespoke designing among emerging artists. The Award was presented to Emirati artist Noura Al Serkal for her project, “The Magic of Scent'', a collection of hand-made necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings all designed with modeled resin containers filled with a Dkhoun blend created by the artist, and finished with a wrap of cloth. The collection is a perfect mix between the beauty of jewelry and the charm of traditional Arabic perfumes.

The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation focuses on supporting culture and arts achievements and sustaining cultural development, by embracing creativity and launching a wide array of initiatives and societal programs to attract various audiences, in addition to cultivating creative talents in the UAE and abroad in cooperation with major local and international cultural institutions.