CultureSummit 2017 Abu Dhabi Concludes With an Action Agenda for the Future

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Curated under the theme 'Culture as a Change Agent in the Digital Age', the panel conversations were focused on collaboration between various disciplines; how technology can shape the future of global policy and how the arts and culture play into the changing landscape, and how cultural ties bind us all together into one global community, among many other topics and themes.

The summit's action-orientated agenda demonstrated the immense diversity of attendees who participated in the discussions and ensured broad perspectives were considered, and incorporated, in the outcomes. Outcomes included a commitment to developing a collaborative web-based platform to foster ongoing cross-cultural conversation and the creation of metrics which can more accurately measure cultural impact.

"As home to more than 180 nationalities, Abu Dhabi, with its truly multicultural social fabric, was the ideal location to gather cultural experts from over 80 different countries to discuss and debate the impact that culture and the arts can have on socio-economic challenges across the world. Over the past week we have witnessed the importance that cultural dialogue and artistic expression plays in building partnerships of mutual understanding between people from diverse cultures and traditions. The wealth of knowledge shared, and the calibre of informed and impassioned discussion that has taken place over the past four days has been both eye-opening and humbling. However CultureSummit 2017 is just the start of a long journey. We are committed to ensuring that we harness and protect our collective cultures for generations to come,"

David Rothkopf, CEO and editor of the FP Group said, "We set out with an ambitious goal-to produce something like a Davos of culture.  But I think in the end, thanks to our partners and each of the participants, we did better than that.  We convened a community unlike any other, one dedicated to using their exceptional creativity to address some of the most important challenges we as a planet face.  In so doing, they reminded us that culture is not "soft power"…it is perhaps the greatest form of power on the planet, the power to change beliefs and move people to action."

CultureSummit 2017 was organised by TCA Abu Dhabi in conjunction with The FP Group, publishers of Foreign Policy magazine, and TCP Ventures, LLC, a cultural advisory firm. Details of follow-up initiatives and the 2018 edition will be announced in due course.

For further information, visit http://www.culturesummitabudhabi.com.

SOURCE Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority