Art meets governance in UAE initiative for future leaders

ABU DHABI -

A new initiative bringing together art, purpose and accountability is seeking to reshape how the UAE’s next generation of creative leaders turn ideas into lasting social impact.

The Pearl Initiative has joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) to launch the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab, a programme designed to equip young creatives with the governance skills needed to transform artistic vision into sustainable, fundable ventures.

The initiative builds on the success of the Youth Impact Lab, which previously brought together 85 students from 10 universities. Its inaugural session was held in late November at the Jafar Centre for Executive Education at the American University of Sharjah, where emerging cultural leaders spent an intensive day exploring how creativity, purpose and good governance can work hand in hand.

Rather than focusing solely on artistic expression, the programme challenged participants to think like social entrepreneurs, pairing imagination with accountability, transparency and long-term planning. Through structured mentorship, dialogue with experienced philanthropists and artists, and a hands-on pitch development workshop, participants learned how creative ideas can be shaped into initiatives capable of delivering measurable social change.

Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of ADMAF and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said the partnership aims to establish a new model for the creative economy – one rooted in responsibility as much as inspiration.

“By combining artistic creativity with social purpose, we enhance innovation in business and culture, create meaningful opportunities and nurture a culture of human impact locally and globally within the framework of a sustainable creative economy,” she said.

Alkhamis-Kanoo added that the programme is closely aligned with ADMAF’s Young Philanthropist initiative, working with students from universities including the American University of Sharjah, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Manipal University Dubai. The goal, she said, is to prepare young people to exchange ideas and develop creative solutions to environmental, social and humanitarian challenges.

The programme opened with a Riwaq Al Fikr talk titled “Building Creative Ventures for Lasting Social Impact,” bringing together cultural leaders, philanthropists and entrepreneurs to discuss real-world partnerships, funding pathways and the importance of governance in ensuring arts-led initiatives endure. Panellists included Dr Pradeep Sharma of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and Kamila Rangoonwala Ahmed, founder of KRA Art Advisory.

The discussion highlighted how clear frameworks, transparent processes and measurable outcomes help build trust and allow collaborative ventures to thrive.

Participants were then divided into teams for a competitive workshop, guided by mentors including Sarah Sabbagh of 180xSarah, Dr Wasseem Abaza of Zayed University and Dipika Mallya of Ideation Labs. The teams worked on turning creative concepts into structured, purpose-driven projects that could realistically attract funding and partnerships.

Their final pitches addressed a range of social challenges, reflecting a growing understanding among young creatives that artistic vision alone is not enough. The presentations demonstrated how governance, business acumen and creativity can be combined to build ventures that are both inspiring and sustainable.

Ralph Choueiri, executive director of the Pearl Initiative, said the programme reflects a broader push to embed governance principles within the region’s creative economy.

“The ideas presented this year show that when creativity is guided by vision and strong governance, it can deliver meaningful and lasting social impact in the UAE and across the region,” he said.

Winning teams were awarded a one-month internship with ADMAF, giving them the opportunity to work alongside the foundation’s professional team and gain first-hand experience in developing and managing creative projects with long-term impact.

Organisers said the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab underscores a shared commitment to nurturing young leadership across the Gulf, strengthening an ecosystem of emerging philanthropists and changemakers who see integrity and innovation as inseparable.