NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), a Saudi Arabian NGO, to collaborate in the development of the Alwaleed Cultural Network (ACN). The ACN is a new global network of academic and cultural institutions funded by AP that aims to encourage cross-cultural understanding through education, art, and public engagement.
As part of the agreement, NYUAD will work with other members of the network to develop and deliver projects that advance the aims of ACN. AP, on the other hand, will have a conveying role in the operation of ACN.
HRH Princess Lamia bint Majed, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, described the partnership as an excellent example of integration and cooperation in the digital sector. She added that the Alwaleed Cultural Network is designed to bring together globally important universities, museums, and cultural institutions to create a more inclusive and connected world through an accessible online platform and a trusted program of research, education, art, and community engagement.
NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann expressed excitement at the prospect of partnering with Alwaleed Philanthropies. She highlighted that the arts and culture are indispensable resources to our shared humanity and that the Alwaleed Cultural Network is fostering vital understanding, empathy, compassion, and cooperation across borders by bridging cultural divides.
The Alwaleed Cultural Network has several patrons, including the Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University (USA), University of Cambridge (UK), University of Edinburgh (UK), American University in Cairo (Egypt), American University of Beirut (Lebanon), the History of Science and Pitt Rivers Museums at Oxford University (UK), and Pergamon Museum, Berlin (Germany). These partners share an understanding that diverse cultures have remarkable histories and exchanges in common. To this end, ACN’s varied projects promote cross-cultural discourse and provide foundational support systems in the global academic and cultural ecosystem.
