Sixth edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi: A Matter of Time

The Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the sixth edition of its leading global forum, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, which will return to Manarat Al Saadiyat in the UAE capital from October 29 to 31,  2023.

Held under the theme A Matter of Time, this edition will gather an exceptional collection of thought leaders from the various fields of culture such as art, heritage, media, music, museums, public policy and technology from over 90 countries, to explore our changing relation to time and how culture can change the world’s interpretation of time.

Experts, creative thinkers, artists, change makers, policy makers and leaders from the culture and creative industries will look into how this change is impacting the way culture is produced, received and consumed, and also the role that culture—which so often holds together past, present, future—could play to help us navigate this moment of inflection in the way we relate to the notion of time. The summit sessions will shift away from “mechanical time” characteristic of our contemporary era to a “new cultural time” realigned with the rhythm of human awareness and nature.

This year’s programme features a multi-track agenda consisting of a series of keynotes, plenary sessions, panel discussions, artist talks, case study workshops, creative conversations, policy sessions, cultural performances, and a visual art exhibition.

First held in 2017, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is an annual global convening that harnesses the expertise of policy makers, researchers, artists, and culture professionals to examine urgent contemporary issues facing cultural industries, with the ambition to identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide and turn these into actions and solutions. An extraordinary forum of knowledge exchange, debate, and policy development, Culture Summit is organised by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with global partner organisations, which this year include UNESCO, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, and the Recording Academy among others.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The sixth edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi will explore the role of culture in changing the world’s tempo by offering a closer look at our relation to time. As we navigate a modern, complex world, we must ask ourselves how does our relation to time impact the way we produce and consume culture now, and in the future.

We look forward to welcoming academics, policymakers and innovators from around the globe to Abu Dhabi to address this concept to drive change in the creative industries and wider cultural landscape. Culture Summit Abu Dhabi continues to be a cornerstone of a diverse cultural programme which is curated to inspire creativity and knowledge development; helping to diversify and build a knowledge-based economy.”

Each day, the Summit programme will follow a specific sub-theme to unpack how our relation to time is evolving, examine the challenges this evolution represents for the culture and creative sectors, and provide focused, functional solutions. 

Those looking to attend Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2023 can express their interest on the website here. The event is by invitation only and spaces are limited.