Ministry of Culture and Youth Launches "Create Theatre" Initiative with financial grants amounting to a million dirhams

• Noura Al Kaabi: Theatre is a key pillar of the cultural and creative industries
• The initiative targets 200 talents and 10 local theatre troupes to present more than 12 regional and international traveling performances
• The initiative will help activate at least 10 local institutions

The Ministry of Culture and Youth has launched "Create Theatre" initiative, which aims to enrich theatrical arts in the country to promote them as a pillar of cultural and creative sector. The initiative will provide financial and logistical support for theatre-related activities and create a conducive atmosphere to attract more talent to join the field and help make effective contribution to the national economy. 

The Ministry has allocated financial grants for the initiative amounting to about one million dirhams, reflecting its keenness to strengthen the UAE’s position on the global cultural and creativity map. The initiative will support youth and creatives working in the theatre sector while also assisting associations and theatre troupes and preserve the legacy of Emirati theatre, which has been in play since the 1950s. Theatre continues to be relevant today as the performances shed light on the prevailing issues in society and lend a voice to the present generation’s dreams and aspirations. It helps in building awareness about the values and culture of society.

In a statement, Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, said: "Create Theatre is part of the Ministry of Culture and Youth’s "Ibdaa" initiative to support various creative sectors in the country. We seek to enrich the local theatrical movement, support and follow up on creators working in the field, including artists, organisations, associations and theatre groups from different backgrounds and artistic schools, and enable them to achieve their visions and aspirations. We believe in fostering an environment that allows them to express their creativity. We are aware of the importance of Emirati theatre for Arab and international audiences. This is the reason we decided to dedicate our efforts and make a tangible contribution through the financial grants programme because we recognise importance of the impact of Emirati theatre at regional and global level. We look forward to original and meaningful theatrical works stemming from this initiative.”

Her Excellency continued: "The initiative will benefit more than 200 creative people working in the field of theatre and help reach more than 10 local theatre groups. It will allow more than 12 regional and international touring performances to introduce the creations of Emirati arts. There is a provision for reviving at least 10 local institutions operating in the field. Historically, Emirati theatre has always been a bright spot on the map of Gulf and Arab creativity, drawing attention to the status of this important art form within Emirati society. Theatrical works have helped raise societal and humanitarian issues and provided role models for decades. These performances have a deeper influence on the mind, making theatre an effective tool for reaching out to society as a centrepiece of performing arts. The performing arts and the fundamental pillar of cultural, creative and the entertainment industry.” 

Grants and Facilities Programme

The Create Theatre initiative offers a special programme comprising four types of grants that support associations and theatre groups in the country to develop talents and reach out to the audiences locally and internationally. The grants will contribute to grow the artform in a modern and sustainable manner.  

The grants include:

1. Grants for tours of theatrical performances within the UAE – the tours of newly produced theatrical performances (not more than two years) will be supported, with the help of public benefit associations or theatre groups registered in the country. A financial grant of AED 30,000 has been allocated for this project. This grant aims to support Emirati theatrical performances to tour all emirates of the country, enhancing the ability of theatre groups to reach a wider audience, which will contribute to the revitalization of the theatrical movement in the country, and allow the theatre to play a positive and constructive role in society, and strengthen its local audience base. This grant will be awarded to up to nine groups. 

1. Grants will also be awarded to participate in international festivals abroad at the Arab and regional levels, for newly produced theatrical performances (not more than two years old), organised by public benefit associations or theatre groups registered in the country using a financial grant of AED 100,000. Up to three grants are allocated for this category.

1. The initiative provides a special grant for talents of individuals and theatre groups in the UAE, to develop their skills and abilities. This grant encourages theatre groups and individuals to enroll in specialised capacity building programmes, supporting individuals to apply for opportunities for mentorship or theatrical residency, as well as training and developing theatrical skills in the country to keep pace with the international trends of contemporary theatre. The grant allocates an amount ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 25,000 for programmes within the country, with a minimum  of four winners, and  AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 for foreign residency programmes with at least two winners. 

1. The fourth initiative provides annual grants dedicated to supporting associations and theatre groups on the operational side, with the aim of reducing the annual operational burden on teams and associations, and contributing to the sustainability of their creative work. The Ministry has tasked a  specialised committee  to evaluate all completed and qualified grant applications, based on the evaluation of pre-decided criteria to determine the recipients of the grants and the amounts allocated to each of them. 

Facilities

Through the initiative, the sector will enjoy a range of facilities that provide logistical support to associations and theatre groups to facilitate the continuation of their creative production. These include: exemption of associations and theatre groups from rental charges of spaces in creative centres of the Ministry, to ease the financial burden, and to encourage theatre groups to perform outside the usual season and reach a wider audience. This would also raise their income while supporting more creative productions in the country. Associations and theatre groups will also be able to market their new productions through the Ministry's channels to allow them to reach the largest possible audience. This would enable them to focus their energies on creative work. In addition to this, the Ministry is also providing office space for associations and theatre groups in its creative centres free of charge thereby helping the associations and theatre groups with their creative production. The Ministry is cooperating  with theatre personalities and associations to promote theatrical movement in the country, as  well as boost these centres as creative hubs.

Create Theatre has been launched in partnership with Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF). 

For more information regarding the application criteria, please visit the Ministry of Culture and Youth’s official website https://mcy.gov.ae