The Student Council of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) hosted a poetry reading event on Monday 24 May, generously supported by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF). The poetic gathering, led by Mishaal bin Amro, brought together well known poets such as Salem Al-Ali, Majid Al Menhali, Jasim Al Mas and Abdullah Buraiki, and was attended by Her Excellency Hoda Al-Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Dr. Al Tayeb Kamali, HCT Vice Chancellor, as well as a large number of students from the college and other interested parties.
Her Excellency Hoda Al-Khamis Kanoo said: “An important objective for the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation’s role is to nurture the creative talent of young UAE nationals, and support UAE art, culture and literature. We look forward to establishing partnership with international festivals and cultural institutions in both the Arab and Western world as we continue to build bridges of cultural understanding. These relationships facilitate cultural dialogue, knowledge sharing, and promote values of tolerance and openness.
The support of this poetry event is in line with the foundation’s support for a number of academic and educational programs, as well as other events designed to build and develop the talents of our creative community.”
Dr. Simon Jones, Director of Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, praised the collaboration and expressed his appreciation to the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation for its dedication to developing talent and increasing cultural awareness among students.
The event started with a speech by Ahmed Al Houssani, Student Council President at the Higher Colleges of Technology, in which he expressed his gratitude to the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and the college management for their continued support. He said: “The colleges have an important role to play, alongside cultural institutions, in strengthening the relationship between our youth and our national heritage in literature, poetry, and oral traditions.”
The speech was followed by Mishaal bin Amro introducing the poets, who gave a brief overview of their writings, and highlighted the philosophy of their national poetical heritage.
The poetry was then read in rounds to a great response from the audience. The poets Jasim Al Mas, Abdullah Al Buraiki, Majid Al Menhali, and Salim Al Ali, presented poems praising the rulers of the UAE and about their loyalty to the UAE, the country they love and to which they belong.
The event was concluded by an award presentation to the poets, sponsored by “The Beach Hotel Apartments”, in recognition of their contribution to the art of traditional poetry in the UAE. The director of the HCT then presented an award to Her Excellency Hoda Al-Khamis Kanoo in recognition of the generous support the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation has provided for the colleges activities, and for embracing talented students and supporting their creative development.
