AWLADNA FORUM IN EGYPT HONORS FALAJ CENTER FOR ARTS
Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), congratulated the members of the Art for All Center “Falaj” and its workers on the honorable results they achieved during their participation in the fifth Edition of the International Forum for Arts of the Gifted “Awladna”. The Awladna Foundation for Arts of the Gifted in Egypt organized this event from 16 to 23 November 2021 under the slogan (Rejoice.. Together). Delegations from more than 31 Arab and foreign countries participated in the forum.
She said, “Persons with disabilities have the ability to be creative in all fields. Since its establishment, SCHS has believed in their ability and worked to include, advocate, empower, educate and integrate persons with disabilities in society according to international best practices”.
She emphasized that SCHS's vision of art is not limited to its creative value, but also includes its psychotherapeutic side and its role in spreading feelings of hope and joy, in addition to focusing on the global perspective.
In order to achieve the greatest benefit not only for persons with disabilities but for society in general, the Art for All Center began more than a year ago to provide its services in various fields of arts for persons without disabilities. The center provided opportunities to integrate artists with disabilities with their non-disabled peers and share experiences.
She explained that SCHS is the first institution in the United Arab Emirates to employ arts in serving the issues of persons with disabilities since its establishment of the Emirates Group for Special Arts in 1995. This group is the first specialized artistic group to discover and train creators with disabilities. The Art for All Center, which SCHS established in 2017, is a natural addition.
SCHS is eager to benefit from advanced global expertise and experience. It has won and maintained membership in the International Society for Very Special Art year after year. SCHS renew this today acquiring membership to John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the International Organization for Arts and Disability, both of which located in Washington DC.
Honoring
Her Excellency the Egyptian Minister of Culture, the artist Dr. Enas Abdel-Dayem, honored at the opening ceremony of the International Forum for Arts of the Gifted the Art for All Center (Falaj) in appreciation of its great efforts in containing, advocating and empowering people with disabilities in accordance with international best practices. Mr. Mohammad Bakr, Director of the Center received the honoring Along with the artist Moza Abdullah (the first Emirati artist to paint with her feet) and the artist Alia Abdel Qader (the first artist with a hearing impairment to play the piano).
Falaj's participation in the forum was magnificent because of the honorable results. The Center achieved the first place in the (Performing and Fine Arts) competitions and third place in the (Music) competition. The audience met this performance with great applause.
The center's delegation that participated in the forum included 10 artists with disabilities, accompanied by five supervisors.
Mr. Muhammad Bakr was so proud of the advanced level of the center. This enabled Falaj to achieve these results amid the participation of more than 31 countries in the forum. He has confirmed that these results are due to the unlimited support and good directions of Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila bint Muhammad Al Qasimi.
He said, “The Art for All Center provides its services on a permanent basis to 58 persons with disabilities. During the past year, more than 800 persons with and without disabilities benefited from its training services. The center aims to achieve the principle of equal opportunities between artists with disabilities and their non-disabled peers in practicing Artistic and cultural activities. In addition, Falaj aims to empower and integrate creators with disabilities into local, regional and international artistic and cultural movement, in addition to cooperating with artistic and cultural institutions within the country in providing training programs and artistic projects for artists with disabilities”.
Bakr explained that the center provides its services in the fields of fine, and performing arts and music for those interested. In addition to participating in many competitions and art exhibitions inside and outside the country. Falaj is keen to consolidate cooperation with various centers and institutes at the local and international levels.