Sheikh Sultan Al Qassemi

Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi is an Emirati columnist and researcher on social, political and cultural affairs in the Arab Gulf States. He is also the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, an independent initiative established in 2010 to contribute to the intellectual development of the art scene in the Arab region. He has taught 'Politics of Modern Middle Eastern Art' at New York University, Yale University, Georgetown University, Boston College, The American University of Paris, Brandeis University, Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia University and most recently at Bard College Berlin. Sultan also recently completed a Fellowship at Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. Sultan is currently a Research Associate at SOAS Middle East Institute, London.

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Myrna Ayad

For over two decades, Myrna Ayad has authored, edited, and contributed to several books, magazines and dailies on visual art and culture from the Arab world and Iran. A frequent panellist, jurist, and moderator, her role as an independent cultural strategist allows her to work on projects within the luxury sector, government entities, private companies, and non-profit organisations. Based in the UAE for over four decades, Ayad is a graduate of the American University in Dubai and lives in Dubai with her husband and two children.

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Munira Al Sayegh

Munira Al Sayegh is an influential curator from Abu Dhabi, UAE, known for founding Dirwaza Curatorial Lab. With a rich history in the arts, including projects like The Creative Act at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Bayn: The In-Between for UAE Unlimited, her work often explores grassroots initiatives and narrative reclamation in the Gulf. Al Sayegh's career features a range of significant exhibitions across various global platforms, such as The Cup and The Saucer by 421 and Between the Sky and Earth at the Middle East Institute. Her advisory roles and contributions to art dialogues, notably at Art Dubai and NYU Abu Dhabi, underline her commitment to enriching the cultural landscape.