Open Culture Workshop

Inspired in part by the Open GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) movement – which promotes open access, reuse, and sharing of cultural collections in digital spaces – the Open Culture project seeks a local context for such ideas; organiser and host Engage101 has been actively exploring the potential of participatory practices and infrastructures in the UAE, and says the project’s launch marks the beginning of a long-term initiative aimed at encouraging collaborative thinking and reflection on the present and future of the region’s cultural commons.

This inaugural meeting takes the form of an interactive workshop session with participants invited to contribute personal and professional insights on topics such as …

> What happens when we begin to view art and culture as a public good?
> How does this idea extend into digital realms?
> Does greater access lead to the emancipation of knowledge?
> What does “digital commons” really mean – and are there more fitting alternatives?
> How might the UAE’s cultural ecosystem benefit from embracing digital commons?
> What value, challenges, or possibilities arise when we begin to share our individual data, research, image-making, and projects?

That’s a lot of meaty, interesting questions to consider. The event is organised by Aliaa Shaaban, who researches cultural heritage policy, participatory practices, and the role of emerging technologies and innovation within cultural institutions; and Engage101, a platform that exhibits and supports independent Gulf-based artists and also produces original academic research on the arts in the region.