ICOM Dubai 2025

11-17 November, 2025

Join us in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for ICFA Conference activities as part of the 27th ICOM General Conference: The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.

Our own meeting theme is Art and Ethnicity.

The term “Fine art” has traditionally been rooted in Western cultural traditions. However, every culture has cultivated its own artistic expressions that align with the concept of fine art. These diverse artistic traditions should never be considered marginal—rather, their significance becomes evident when we shift our perspective.

To fully integrate these artistic contributions into the broader context of fine art, substantial effort is required, and we bear the responsibility for driving this change. The first step toward this goal is to adopt a more relative perspective, recognizing and understanding the ethnic dimensions of our own artistic heritage.

As we gather in an Arabic country, we aim to engage in discussions that will help us create a rich, interconnected map of fine art traditions, weaving together diverse cultural threads into a more inclusive artistic landscape.

Along with this main concept, we offer three sessions followingly:

12th November:  ICFA Session A –Traditions and Fusions – The Role of Museums in a Changing World

12th November:  ICFA Session B –What Technology Enhances – Digital Innovation and Artistic Expression

13th November: CAMOC & ICFA Session C – Art and Creativity in Arab Cities: Transformation

15th November: ICFA’s IC day –Curating Identity: Collection Making at Sharjah Art Museum

Session A: Traditions and Fusions – The Role of Museums in a Changing World

In an era of rapid globalization and cultural exchange, artistic traditions are constantly evolving through fusion with other influences. Museums, as cultural institutions, play a crucial role in preserving heritage while also adapting to contemporary transformations. This session explores how museums can navigate the balance between safeguarding traditional art forms and embracing new, hybrid artistic expressions.

For this session, we particularly welcome proposals that introduce new challenges and approaches for fine art museums, reflecting their dual role of museums as preservers of heritage and as dynamic platforms for the future.

Expected presentations may include topics such as:

  • Moving beyond geographical categorizations in curatorial practice and museum policy
  • Implications of decolonization in collections and narratives
  • Showcasing the fusion of different cultures
  • Recontextualizing traditional art forms in the contemporary world
  • Cross-cultural collaboration in museum practices and community engagement

 

Session B: What Technology Enhances – Digital Innovation and Artistic Expression

Technology is reshaping the way art is created, preserved, and experienced. From digital curation in museums to AI-generated art and virtual reality exhibitions, new technologies offer both opportunities and challenges in representing diverse artistic traditions. This session explores how technological advancements can enhance our understanding of ethnicity in art, bridge cultural gaps, and expand accessibility while also questioning potential risks such as cultural dilution or digital exclusion.

This session invites proposals that explore the impact of technological innovation on the creation, presentation, and interpretation of art and ethnicity within museum practice. Critical perspectives or cautions regarding these innovations are also welcome.

Expected presentations may include topics such as:

  • AI and machine learning in artistic creation or curatorial practice
  • Digital storytelling and the representation of ethnic or indigenous art
  • The ethics of digital reproduction, appropriation, and authorship
  • Museum-related issues surrounding digital exclusion and cultural dilution
  • Technologies that foster cross-cultural understanding

 

Session C: Art and creativity in Arab cities: Transformation
Joint session with CAMOC: IC for City Museums

Arab cities have long been vibrant cultural hubs where artistic and creative expressions reflect historical depth, contemporary transformations, and visions for the future. This session welcomes proposals that explore the dynamic relationship between urban spaces and artistic practices in cities of the Arab world in the past, the present, and the future.

Expected topics could include urban art movements, exhibitions highlighting aspects of city life, negotiations between urban space and creative work, museum roles in promoting public art within city planning, museum programs engaging urban communities through creative expression, etc. Through discussions, we aim to explore how art shapes and is shaped by the evolving urban landscapes of Arab cities.

Submission guidelines

Please submit abstracts of up to 300 words for consideration. Include 5 keywords for your topic at the beginning of the abstract. Also include a brief biographical note.

We have a limited number of presentation spots for this conference, so presentations are expected to be limited to 20 minutes for sessions A and B, and 10 minutes for session C, and will need to be in person at the conference.

For questions, please contact icom.icfa@gmail.com