The Ministry of Culture has announced the recipients of the third cycle of the National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity, recognizing outstanding Emirati creatives contributing to cultural heritage and the creative industries. Among the distinguished recipients is visual artist and researcher Salmah Almansoori, who has been awarded the National Grant in Cultural Heritage – Creation and Production category for her project, Archiving Ghayathi: Memory, Material, and Place.
Almansoori’s groundbreaking project delves into the rich cultural and historical identity of Ghayathi, a small desert town in the UAE deeply rooted in Bedouin traditions. Through a unique combination of archival research, oral histories, and material experimentation, she aims to document and preserve the town’s evolving heritage amid rapid urbanization.
A central aspect of her research is the creation of handmade paper from locally sourced materials, such as palm fibers and desert grasses, which will serve as the foundation for visual artworks reflecting Ghayathi’s past and present. These works explore themes of loss, memory, and neglect, using the transformation of natural materials as a metaphor for the shifting cultural landscape.
The National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity, launched by the Ministry of Culture, is a key initiative designed to foster Emirati talent and cultural production. The program provides financial support to national creatives distinguished in the cultural and creative industries, enabling them to develop ambitious projects that enrich the UAE’s cultural landscape.
February 27, 2025
