minister of culture salutes success of uae pavilion volunteer program

Volunteers gain first-hand experience in exhibiting at the most prestigious event in the art world
Minister of Culture His Excellency Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais has acknowledged the success of the UAE Pavilion’s volunteer program, hailing the initiative a magnificent achievement that will further cultivate the future wave of arts enthusiasts and practitioners in the UAE. The pioneering cultural initiative has been co-organised with the Emirates Foundation’s Takatof program and Emirates Airline.
Expressing his delight on the accomplishments of the program, His Excellency Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, commented:
“This is a truly magnificent achievement for the next generation of arts practitioners from the UAE. Not only have our youth served the nation but they have gained in-depth experience of one of the finest international exhibitions, and have fostered goodwill with likeminded peers.”
Assuming the role of cultural ambassadors for the UAE, the UAE Pavilion volunteers have embarked on an enriching journey to advance their knowledge of international arts and help showcase the nation’s artistic ambitions to the global art community.
The volunteers are given the chance to exercise creativity and responsibility by serving as guides as well as gallery managers who oversee the maintenance of the national pavilion, and to deepen their appreciation of the many facets of art through exposure by giving them free admission to Venice’s museums and diverse cultural attractions.
Alia Al Sabi, a UAE Pavilion volunteer, freelance architect and journalist, said, “My participation as a volunteer at the Venice Biennale is one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. The UAE Pavilion team worked really hard to provide the volunteers with a valuable opportunity and it was evident in all their efforts. I felt we were given ample exposure to how things work behind such celebrated events and were really put out there to interact with the various players that made the UAE Pavilion possible.”
“I will always be grateful for being able to become a part of this program. The experience I attained from dealing with people from all over the world, maintaining the pavilion, living on my own, and exploring the magnificent city of Venice will always remain with me,” Mustafa Hussain, a student volunteer of the national pavilion, said as he looked back on his experience in Venice.
The UAE Pavilion volunteer program could not have achieved its success without the assistance of the Emirates Foundation’s Takatof Social Volunteering Program, which supplied 17 out of over 40 volunteers that will be sent to lend a helping hand to the UAE’s debut at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition.
Commenting on the foundation’s support for the UAE Pavilion, Maytha Al Habsi, Director of Takatof, said:
“Takatof aims to embed volunteering within UAE culture. At the heart of Takatof is a deep-rooted commitment to social responsibility and public service.”
“This prestigious international art event offered our carefully selected volunteers an unrivalled opportunity to experience many aspects of world cultures, as well as to represent the UAE to the world,”Al Habsi added.
Since its announcement, the program has been considered a colossal success based on the level of participation from citizens and residents of the UAE. The volunteer program received an enormous amount of applications from art enthusiasts eager to gain more knowledge through experiential learning.
Established through the support of Emirates Airline, the UAE Pavilion volunteer program accepted applications from individuals who demonstrate a serious interest in the arts and are at least 18 years old. All accepted volunteers are provided with round-trip tickets to Venice as well as housing, meals, and small stipends.
The UAE Pavilion, titled “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” bears a playful and provocative name for the nation’s first pavilion at the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event.  The UAE National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and is supported by the Emirates Foundation and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA).
Universally recognised as the world’s most prestigious contemporary art event, the Venice Biennale currently presents its 53rd International Art Exhibition, which began on June 7 and will be staged through November 22, 2009.