Emirates Literature Foundation co-partners the 7-month-long event
The National Library and Archives, in collaboration with the Emirates Literature Foundation, has launched a Knowledge Circle programme.
Located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the National Library and Archives is the oldest and richest archive related to the Arabian Gulf region.
Operating from Dubai, UAE, the Emirates Literature Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which supports literature in the UAE and the Middle East region through varied cultural initiatives.
The newly unveiled Knowledge Circle programme is a series of cultural events held monthly from September 2023 to March 2024 and will address crucial topics related to archives that lead the development of literature and the cultural sector.
The first event in the Knowledge Circle series is on the theme of ‘Shaping The Arab World’ and will include three sessions:
- The Gulf Crossroads
- Building a Nation
- Enlightenment by Information
Sessions will provide insights into how archives and libraries contribute to nations’ social and economic progress.
They will also explore the role of institutions that helped build the foundations of the UAE in documenting the history and culture of the country and telling stories from its glorious past.
The sessions boast notable subject experts and thought leaders, including Abdulrahman Alzaabi, Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Alia Al Shamsi, Anthony Geffen, Amna Abulhoul, Mahnaz Fancy, Dr Peter Magee, Sanam Yaqub, Dr Timothy Power, and Professor William Zimmerle.
Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director General of the National Library and Archives, said: “The National Library and Archives is committed to the preservation of archival content and ensuring that it is available and accessible to the public, and raising awareness of the importance of maintaining a record of documents for their role in safeguarding the nation’s memory.”
The programme will also feature excerpts from History of the Emirates, a documentary about the UAE.
The Knowledge Circle programme is an excellent opportunity for the public in the UAE to visit the National Library and Archives premises in Abu Dhabi emirate and learn about the UAE’s rich past, present and future.
The Knowledge Circle series is a part of the second cultural season of the National Library and Archives.
Featured image: Interior of the National Library and Archives in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Image National Library and Archives
