The Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi met with Laurent Gaveau, Director of ‘the Lab’ at Google Cultural Institute. This meeting was held on the sidelines of the UAE delegation’s ongoing visit to Paris, headed by HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to attend the Paris Book Fair taking place from March 16-19. During their meeting, Noura Al Kaabi and Laurent Gaveau reviewed the immersive and augmented experiences and solutions that The Lab promotes for the culture sector.

The meeting also shed light on the inclusion of Emirati artists in the residency program at The Lab, stressing on the importance of promoting collaboration projects and the expansion of partnerships between creativity hubs in the UAE and The Lab. Al Kaabi also explored the possibility of enabling virtual tours of the UAE’s top museums and art galleries, in addition to collaborating with The Lab to provide an immersive and interactive experience of Google Arts & Culture’s technologies. Al Kaabi also met with Xavier Niel, Director of ‘Station F’, the world’s biggest incubator fostering innovation and startups, particularly for young entrepreneurs in different fields.

Al Kaabi explored the elements that can be applied to the UAE’s creativity hubs and the possibility of Emirati cultural entrepreneurs and artists who are passionate about cultural startups to join various programs conducted by Station F. Additionally, the meeting discussed the plans Station F has in store for creative entrepreneurs. On the second day of her visit to Paris, Al Kaabi attended the book signing ceremony of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah which took place at the Paris Opera House.

Al Kaabi also attended a lecture on Sheikh Zayed by HE Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Federal National Council, and Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute- Paris at the Sharjah Pavilion at the Paris Book Fair. In recognition of the Emirate’s commitment to artistic and cultural excellence, Sharjah was selected as the guest of honor city at the Paris Book Fair 2018. The announcement, made in in March of last year by former French President, Francois Hollande, highlights Sharjah’s exemplary cultural standing on an international level particularly in showcasing Arab culture and heritage in France and beyond.