Calling all Cultral Superheros - Its time think global & act local

Dear Arabs, Part-time Arabs, Friends of Arab communities and guests of Arab countries,

Take a pen and paper and write down the five most inspiring and stimulating cultural offerings you have seen in the last 12 months. I’m not talking about the kind that are memorable for the impressive canapés and VIP guest list; I’m talking about the kind of cultural events that leave you totally exhilarated, and offer a fresh insight into the world around you.

Did you see a theatre show with an incredible cast? Read a review about some obscure filmmaker who sent in a short film made on his home PC to a TV station and got backing for a series? Or was there a jaw dropping multi media installation influenced by the new wave of pan-Arabic Hip Hop? Now, I ask you, of these cultural manifestations you have seen, how many of them were created by young Arab artists?

Are there any Kuwaitis, Omanis, Jordanians, Emiratis or Egyptians on the list? A Palestinian…Or a Lebanese perhaps? …Maybe three out of five, two out of five, one out of five… It’s not so easy, is it? Ok, so how about thinking of just one Arab artist who blew your cultural mind?

If you are struggling to list local talent, you are not alone. Nevertheless, judging by the number of air miles clocked up by members of the upwardly mobile Middle Eastern art scene, a lack of talent is defiantly not the problem. The Moroccan artist and photographer, Hassan Hajaj is in talks to showcase his work in Tokyo; Joumana Mourad (founder of IJAD Dance Company) has just come back from performing in Taiwan; while ex UAE resident Wael Hatter’s cheeky installation entitled ‘Make Your Own Arab’ was well-received in London… The list goes on. The question is whether the very countries from which they originate recognise and celebrate their flair.

The reason why we cannot recall their names with ease is more likely rooted in the fact that artists from the Middle East constantly struggle to get exposure in their ever-developing home cities; places that tend to put more emphasis on visiting international artists than home-grown talent; leaving local artists to battle it out against a glut of sponsored events and branded shopping experiences that leave little to the imagination.

As the nations of the Gulf vie to become cultural powerhouses of global renown over the next few years, personally I am petrified that all the talent will be forced to pack their bags and move to a place where their creativity will be enjoyed by everyone but their fellow Arabs. An even worse scenario is that the lack of a supportive infrastructure in their home towns will force them to give up and became advertising executives or tabloid journalists instead. Wouldn’t that be tragic?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting we all have to lock non-Arab talent away to make space for our own. However, the ‘Think Global, Act Local’ cliché is something that I feel has always eluded us in the Middle East and

Arab world, particularly when it comes to cultural practice. Sadly The Third Line and Townhouse galleries of this world are few and far between so isn’t it time we think how we can all contribute to our national art scenes to and help them flourish? Perhaps it is time for the individual to become a cultural superhero. After all, you don’t have to be mad about art and culture to make a difference and make the ‘Act Local’ part a reality. If public relations are your bag, why not volunteer some expertise for the next degree show or youth concert? If you are a chief executive, forget about putting on an elaborate pyrotechnic extravaganza for your next launch and commission some fresh Arab writers, artists or musicians to make your company stand out from the crowd… Get the idea? Imagine just what the impact would be if we each offered our support and skills to create new platforms and possibilities for an ever increasing pool of incredibly talented artists from the region?

With this in mind, please now take a pen and paper and write down the five most inspiring cultural events you hope to contribute to and see in the next 12 months.