Hatta Winter Festival Showcases 140 Workshops Celebrating Emirati Culture And Creativity

The Hatta Winter Festival, part of the Hatta Winter initiative, has captivated audiences with 140 workshops that highlight Emirati cultural and artistic traditions. Thousands of visitors from across the UAE and beyond are attending. Organised by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, these workshops form a diverse schedule catering to various interests and ages, with many activities designed for families.

Set against the picturesque Hatta mountains, the Festival encourages visitors to enjoy the pleasant weather and community spirit. The number of workshops has increased by 40% from last year's 100 sessions. Mahra Alyouha, a member of the organising committee, stated, "Workshops are key components of this year's festival since they allow for a wide variety of interactive activities and greater audience engagement irrespective of the age or interests of visitors."

Alya Lootah and Nora Kalban from ‘Medaf’ will lead painting workshops. They will also teach how to use seashells and canvas to create unique art pieces. Other workshops include glass painting, cake decoration, Islamic geometric engravings on metal, wax painting, and fabric bag painting. Aisha Johar provides tips on cup painting while Shaikha Mohammed demonstrates embroidery techniques.

‘The Swing House’ offers embroidery workshops on tote bags. In collaboration with ‘MOFUN,’ mirror engraving and felting embroidery sessions are available. Children can learn jewellery box design or master wood and mirror painting with Shaikha Obaid from ‘NSSFMA’. Another session by ‘The Embroidery House’ focuses on using felting needles.

Brand Dubai collaborates with ‘MOFUN’ to offer specialised children's workshops such as tote bag painting, plant pot embellishment, acrylic painting on 3D models, and creating accessories using paracord ropes. Mirror decoration sessions using clay are another highlight for young participants.

The Swing House also conducts children's workshops on pillow embroidery, clay modelling, mosaic design inspired by Hatta’s landscapes, and creative fabric designs on apparel. Jewellery and bead design sessions aim to engage children in creative activities.

Expanding Creative Skills

The Festival's extensive list of activities reflects its commitment to providing enjoyable learning experiences for all ages in a nature-inspired setting. Mahra Alyouha added that due to high interest in previous editions' workshops, they increased this year's offerings to 140 sessions covering diverse art forms and cultural themes.

The workshops not only offer opportunities to acquire new skills but also highlight unique aspects of the local environment. This approach fosters discussions around sustainable development practices while encouraging creativity and skill development among participants.

The Hatta Winter Festival remains a vibrant platform for showcasing Emirati culture through interactive experiences that engage visitors in meaningful ways.

With inputs from WAM