ADMAF Education fosters understanding and appreciation for the arts among children and young people. Its initiatives help to shape creative thinking, spotlight emerging talent, and broaden horizons.
Education Projects
ADMAF believes in investing in potential. It uses every art form to add value to the formal curricula of schools, colleges and universities. It creates opportunities that enable the nation’s young talent to realize their potential as tomorrow’s creative leaders.
Through a diverse range of projects from lectures, workshops, field trips, exhibitions, concerts, productions and other initiatives, students receive ‘hands on’ experience. This enhances not only their educational performance but also their life skills.
Partner Institutions
The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation have signed Memoranda of Understanding with the following Universities, Colleges and Institutions in Abu Dhabi:
- Higher Colleges of Technology (Abu Dhabi Men’s College)
- Higher Colleges of Technology (Abu Dhabi Women’s College)
- UAE University (Al Ain)
- Zayed University
- Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors’ Affairs
- New York University Abu Dhabi
The ADMAF Education Program works in close collaboration with these partners in order to support, expand and sustain the arts in Abu Dhabi.
Higher Colleges of Technology: Abu Dhabi Men’s College
The Higher Colleges of Technology is the largest higher educational institution in the United Arab Emirates with the current enrolment exceeding 16,000 students, all UAE nationals. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with ADMAF in March 2007, the two partner institutions have worked together in order to provide students with international opportunities through exposure to travel, language training and cultural visits. ADMAF also encourages creativity amongst the students of the college by regularly supporting photo exhibitions on campus. During the Abu Dhabi Festival, HCT Men students participated extensively in creating archival documentation of the Festival, while a select group of students worked on a documentary highlighting the “behind the scenes” aspects of the realization of the Festival. ADMAF has also provided funding to aid in the development of the new and innovative Masters of Cultural and Creative Industries program to be launched at HCT in the fall of 2009.
Higher Colleges of Technology: Abu Dhabi Women’s College
ADMAF entered into a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Women’s College in March of 2007 in order to solidify the relationship between the two entities which had begun some years earlier. The two partner institutions continue to work together to provide the students of ADWC with international opportunities through exposure to travel, art, music, educational and cultural workshops and visits with internationally recognized guest lecturers. ADMAF also encourages creativity amongst the students of the college by regularly supporting student exhibitions.
Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ADMAF and UAE University in February of 2009, ADMAF has worked closely with the University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences to promote free and creative thinking amongst students, as well as foster a greater interest in the arts at all levels. Supporting and development of arts workshops, study trips abroad for students, and student exhibitions are among the projects we encourage and support amongst the students of UAE University.
Zayed University (ZU) was established in 1998 and named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's first president. Zayed University's mission "is to prepare Emirati students for a meaningful and successful twenty-first century personal and professional life; to graduate students who will help shape the future of the UAE; to support the economic and social advancement of the UAE; to lead innovation in higher education in the UAE through teaching, learning, research, and outreach; and to do so in a culturally diverse, humane, technologically advanced, and increasingly global environment." ADMAF began a relationship with both the College of Communication and Media Sciences and the College of Art and Design in the Fall of 2007. Ever since the two entities have been working hand in hand to develop the arts at the University through a series of concerts, guest lecturers, international projects and exhibitions.
Zayed Higher Organization
Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors' Affairs was established in response to the directions of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is a non-profit government organization with responsibility for government care and rehabilitation centers, Minors Affairs and Orphans across the emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADMAF and ZHO signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2009 with the mutual desire to promote a collaborative commitment to the development of recreational and cultural opportunities in the performing arts for individuals with disabilities and special needs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
NYUAD has been established in Abu Dhabi as a university with fully integrated liberal arts and science college. New York University (NYU) and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) form the backbone of an organically connected Global Network University. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2009 between ADMAF and NYU foresees the development of common educational initiatives in the fields of arts, culture and creativity. With this MoU, ADMAF takes another step towards its goal to expand the scope of its educational programme which seeks to provide young Emiratis with the tools and opportunities to enhance their skills.
Abu Dhabi Young Media Leaders
ADMAF is committed to enhancing the communication skills of young nationals. Through the Young Media Leaders (YML) program, selected university students meet, listen and learn from leading media professionals and apply their new found knowledge online and in print.
The 10-month initiative engages students enrolled in the initiative’s education partners– Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology and the UAE University. Through a series of seminar hosted by twofour54 and presented by visiting professionals and academics, YML builds the writing, reading and reporting skills of young Emirati men and women.
Throughout the program, YML participants are constantly uploading features, photos, reviews and reports online to a dedicated website. In addition, three editions of the YML magazine are distributed through national newspapers.
A dedicated website: www.mynews.ae has also been created to publish the works of the students. The website is a user-friendly one that enables and encourages the students to develop multimedia production skills. It helps the students realize that they can participate in creating the news. It is an open and positive opportunity for discussion, debate and expression.
YML feeds young talent and presents journalism as a viable career. It gives a voice to the next generation and frees their creativity.
Workshop 1: Website Design & DevelopmentDate: 8th & 9th November 2009
Venue: Twofour54
Instructor: Luciana Blackwell, former website editor-The National
This workshop focused on design aspects of a website and how technology and graphics have an impact on editorial content and style. Students brainstormed on how the ADMAF new Young Media Leaders program website has to be.
Workshop 2: Photo Journalism
Date: 22nd & 23rd November 2009
Venue: Abu Dhabi Women’s College & Zayed University
Instructors: Glenn Edwards, UK Press photographer; Al Ittihad Journalists Al Saad al Manhali, writer and columnist; Amina Awad, journalist and section editor
The workshop focused on practical photographic storytelling techniques for news and features, with an emphasis on the arts. The two women, then, spoke about their experiences as rising print reporters on the UAE national newspaper and the importance of a career in the media.
Workshop 3: Video Journalism
Date: 20th & 21st December 2009
Venue: Twofour54 & United Arab Emirates University
Instructor(s): Tarif Sayed Hasan, TV producer and videographer and Hassan Al Fatah, editor-The National
The workshop focused on how to shoot effectively, under pressure, for a media outlet.
Workshop 4: The Art of Writing
Date: 14th & 15th February 2010
Venue: Twofour54 & United Arab Emirates University
Instructor(s): David Hardaker, Journalist; Lisa Ball-Lechgar
The workshop focused on different styles and techniques of writing, including the difference between writing a story and writing a feature.
Workshop 5: How to Cover an Art Event
Date: 28th February & 1st March 2010
Venue: Abu Dhabi Men’s College & United Arab Emirates University
Instructor: Nancy Durham, Thomson Foundation
The workshop focused on how to translate the visual or aural qualities of an arts event into an effective multimedia report.
Workshop 6: How to Write for a Magazine
Date: 28th & 29th March 2010
Venue: Abu Dhabi Men’s College & United Arab Emirates University
Instructor: Gregg Fray, The National
The workshop focused on writing in a captivating style that will appeal to readers
Workshop 7: TV Presentation Skills
Date: 26th April 2010
Venue: Twofour54
Instructor: Eric Macinnes, Thomson Foundation
The workshop gave students a taste for the art of presenting their stories for television
Workshop 8: Video Production for Websites
Date: 24th May 2010
Venue: Twofour54
Instructor: Edythe McNamee, The National and Safia al Shehi, TV presenter from Baynounah TV
The workshop focused on how to use a mobile phone or a regular camera to get video which can become the news on a website
