Festival wants pictures of pretty dates
Entries are now being accepted for a photography competition on the subject of dates and their place in the UAE’s culture.
Amateur and professional photographers may send in images that focus on exploring the culture, traditions, and customs of the country in different dimensions, organisers of the Fourth International Date Palm Festival said.
Selected participants will have their photos showcased in a Festival Gallery at the event, which takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from November 22 to 27.
Winners will be chosen on subject relevance, values inherent, eye for detail and composition. Entries can be sent in electronically at datepalmfestival.ae.
Qaboos Khalid, director of the festival at Turret Media said, “The competition provides an exciting opportunity for outstanding talents to enrich the Arab culture and heritage by representing a diverse range of perspectives. In order to promote sustainable cultural development in the modern surroundings, it is very important to generate a dialogue between culture, heritage and human experience.”
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the festival is organized by Turret Media in collaboration with UAE University, Khalifa International Date Palm Award and Date Palm Friends Society.
In an all new format, fully oriented towards consumers, the six-day event demonstrates a wide-range of activities and features involving the nation's traditional fruit.
Manufacturers and processors alike will join forces to stage a remarkable display of the date varieties. The heritage display will exhibit national handicrafts and other by-products made from date palm leaves. Visitors can also expect different variations of tribal dance and poetry, healthy tips and knowledge of the cultural heritage of the date palm.
Scientific journals, specialised film shows, and an expressive art and photography exhibition will further complement the cultural extravaganza.