Abu Dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the dates for the seventh edition of its premier global forum, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. Scheduled to take place from 27th to 29th April 2025, the event will be hosted at Manarat Al Saadiyat, situated within the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the theme for this edition, "Culture for Humanity and Beyond," will delve into the evolving relationship between culture and humanity during a time of significant transformation. The summit will address the major power shifts of the century's first quarter, which have led to an uncertain future, prompting a reevaluation of human emancipation and humanism. The goal is to establish new common ground for building a shared, sustainable future.
Over the course of three days, the summit will feature panels, creative conversations, case studies, artist talks, and workshops. Renowned artists, leaders, intellectuals, and creatives will come together to offer fresh perspectives on the future, as traditional ways of thinking become obsolete.
The summit will focus on three sub-themes over its duration. The first day will concentrate on "reshaping the cultural landscape," examining how digital revolution, economic inequality, and geopolitical volatility are redefining cultural identities and societal values. Discussions will cover the impact of these shifts on culture's production, reception, and consumption, and the role of the creative sector in guiding humanity through uncertainty toward a confident future.
On the second day, the theme of "the new frontiers of a post-human environment" will be explored. As technological advancements in AI, biotechnology, and environmental studies redefine humanity, sessions will investigate how culture can ensure these changes enhance the human experience. The program will assess how cultural and creative sectors are adapting their models, infrastructures, and policies to leverage these new frontiers.
The final day will focus on "new frames to redefine Culture for Humanity and Beyond," exploring how innovative, collaborative efforts and 'glocal' approaches can promote resilience, inclusion, and sustainability. These sessions will also examine how cultural innovation and technology can reshape narratives and create new common ground to address global polarization.
The event's key global partners include UNESCO, The Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. Additional partners feature Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, the Cultural Foundation, The National, the Club de Madrid, the Abrahamic Family House, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, and Institut Fran§ais.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is an annual global forum that assembles international leaders from the cultural and creative industries to explore how culture can transform societies and communities worldwide.