[ISEA2014] Introduction: Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo – FOREWORD to the ISEA2014 Catalog

Introductory Statement

As incubators of talent, leadership and thought, Zayed University and Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) share an unwavering commitment to nurture the creative potential of the UAE. Over the last seven years, we have successfully collaborated on numerous arts initiatives including Lest We Forget: Emirati Vernacular Photography, Emerge II: Radiating Ports, and Crossing. These projects have not only informed and inspired all who participate but have also given meaningful momentum to the preparations for ISEA2014.

Our two institutions believe that S.T.E.A.M. shall power the next generation. Sheikh Zayed once said ‘Future generations will be living in a world that is very different from that to which we are accustomed. It is essential that we prepare ourselves and our children for that new world.’ Only by providing a range of dynamic learning experiences across the arts and sciences will we ensure our future leaders and thinkers are ready for what lies ahead. I firmly believe that ISEA2014 will help open our eyes to a new gateway of possibilities.

Thanks to the leadership, today the United Arab Emirates holds pole position in the global innovation race. ISEA2014 will only strengthen our standing further. By transforming the way we learn, we are building a greater tomorrow for all. By fostering a spirit of artistic curiosity and intellectual inquisitiveness, we are changing society’s consumption of technology into the conception of new ideas, industries and inventions.

I commend ISEA2014 and wish all those who participate a fruitful and productive experience.

  • Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo is Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation