The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi along with Semi Permanent, a creative experience company, will launch the first creativity festival in Abu Dhabi.
The festival will bring an array of global talent from the design, retail, branding, fashion, and technology industries.
Semi Permanent Middle East 2021 will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, with LA-based design studio Perron-Roettinger, designing the event location.
The festival will then feature an immersive, multi-sensory schedule of inspiring performances, talks and experiences from 14 to 16 October.
The theme for the year is 'Bridges', which aims to inspire unique solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Mark Ronson, the British-born Oscar and Grammy-winning songwriter, record producer and DJ, will appear in conversation and will also perform an exclusive DJ set.
Turkish-born, Los Angeles-based new media artist Refik Anadol will also stage an exclusive installation in Abu Dhabi.
More information will be announced at a later date.
Murray Bell, Semi Permanent Founder and Creative Director said, “Abu Dhabi’s rapid cultural growth into an international epicentre of art, design and technology, and its gateway-positioning for the wider Arab world, Africa and Asia make it the perfect host. Through a series of internationally renowned art exhibitions, hotel openings, and collaborations with some of the world’s most respected architects - including Jean Nouvel and Bjarke Ingels – it is clear this is a community with limitless imagination. The challenges of 2020 have meant there has never been a better time to design a future we can be proud of, together. We’re excited to bring some of the world’s most inspiring people to this infinite place, and for them to explore new ideas and possibilities with you at Semi Permanent Middle East.”