Sultan AlBazie

With over 45 years of experience in the cultural sector, Mr. Sultan AlBazie is the first CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, one of the eleven commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. 

AlBazie believes that the qualitative shift in the national cultural movement is one of the most critical aspects of the great developmental and civilizational transformation that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed since its ambitious Vision 2030. This transformation has contributed to raising the level of cultural products and promoting Saudi culture abroad. 

AlBazie started his career in journalism as a reporter and then as managing editor of Al-Riyadh newspaper after graduating from King Saud University with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1979. He served in the Ministry of Higher Education as a cultural section manager Saudi Cultural Attaché in France between 1985 and 1988. He was secretary of the Committee for International Cultural Relations.  

AlBazie was appointed editor-in-chief for "Al-Youm" from 1993–1997 before returning to his public office at the Ministry of Higher Education. Afterward, he worked for the Presidency of the National Guard as General Manager of     Public Relations and Protocol and Media Officer for the National Festival of Heritage and Culture. In 2012, he was elected to head the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and the Arts. He served as a consultant for various governmental organizations.

Theater and Performing Arts Commission

The Theater and Performing Arts Commission works to advance the theater and performing arts field, support and encourage funding and investment in production, talent development, and infrastructure, and provide professional training programs and certification bodies specializing in the field. 

The Commission plans to stimulate the development and growth of the theater and performing arts sectors by enabling a diverse ecosystem of Saudi talent to create content that inspires audiences and sustains careers. This will be achieved through initiatives such as talent development programs, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships with local and international arts organizations. 

The Commission is crucial in ensuring Saudi participation in prominent theater and performing arts, international conferences, biennales, festivals, forums, fairs, etc., through country pavilions and stages, fostering a sense of global community and connection.

Ashraf Alfagih

Dr. Ashraf E. AlFagih (PhD) brings more than 20 years of invaluable practical experience in identifying, fostering and advancing opportunities for culture and knowledge exchange. He has significantly contributed to the advancement of two prominent cultural and educational institutions in the MENA region: the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), and the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia.

In 2018, Dr. AlFagih oversaw the public inauguration of Ithra, signifying a pivotal chapter in the cultural narrative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

Dr. AlFagih holds the position of Vice President of Public Affairs at Aramco Asia and also serves as an Ithra cultural advisor. Previously, he held the role of Ithra’s Manager of Programming. Dr. AlFagih is also a celebrated Saudi author, an advocate of popular science and a keynote speaker at leading literary and cultural venues worldwide.

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra)

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is a world-class destination and the beating heart of Saudi Arabia’s creative and culture industry contributing to its prosperity by enabling talent, supporting content production and encouraging cross-cultural exchange that promotes social harmony and human development.  

Located in Dhahran in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Ithra features a five-gallery museum, exhibition hall, performing arts theatre, innovation lab, cinema, state-of-the-art library, extensive education facilities, and the first children’s museum in the nation.  

Ithra—from the Arabic word for “enrichment”—is a dynamic platform for art, creativity and culture. Committed to education and innovation, Ithra’s mission is to foster the creative and cultural sector which it does by championing the work of individuals in various fields, including visual arts, cinema, media and performing arts as well as design and entrepreneurship.

Bill Bragin

Bill Bragin is the founding executive artistic director of The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, a “game-changer” (The National) since it began its programmes in 2015. Under his leadership, The Arts Center is a winner of the 2018 and 2019 Pride of Abu Dhabi Award, and Bragin has been a finalist twice for Abu Dhabi AmCham’s Falcon Individual Award for Excellence. Bragin is a co-founder of globalFEST, 2018 winner of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence. As director of public programming of NY’s Lincoln Center (2008‒2014), he oversaw the Midsummer Night Swing and Lincoln Center Out of Doors festivals. As Director of Joe’s Pub at New York’s Public Theater (2001‒2007), he presented thousands of performances and commissioned the Tony Award-winning musical Passing Strange. Previous activities include roles at Symphony Space, NYNO record label, Central Park SummerStage and George Wein’s Festival Productions, Inc.

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi

Showcasing music, theatre, dance, film, poetry, family programmes and interdisciplinary performances that defy definition, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi presents distinguished professional artists from around the world alongside student, faculty and community productions. 

As a place that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center is a vibrant laboratory for performance that fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and the community. 

Located on the NYU Abu Dhabi campus, The Arts Center presents the University with compelling programming that connects to the curriculum, using the arts to illuminate and enliven the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. The Arts Center creates a dynamic space for research and investigation, encouraging the active pursuit of knowledge for audiences as well as visiting artists. Excellence, collaboration, creativity, accessibility, innovation, respect and understanding are The Arts Center’s core values, striving to be a beacon on the international arts landscape, firmly rooted in the region but with a global reach.

Umberto Fanni

Umberto Fanni has had a long and distinguished artistic career both in theatre management and as an award-winning concert pianist. After graduating from the Conservatory of Music in Brescia and the Conservatory of Music in Geneva, he founded the Young Italian Chamber Orchestra in 1985, later becoming Assistant Artistic Director of I Solisti Veneti. In addition to founding a theatre and music festival management company, he has served as General Manager and Artistic Director of Trieste’s Fondazione Teatro Verdi, Cagliari’s Fondazione Teatro Lirico, Brescia’s Teatro Grande and the Fondazione Arena di Verona.     

Umberto Fanni was first appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House Muscat in 2014, later General Director in 2015, and has raised the organisation’s standing through producing original works in-house and co-productions with leading international opera houses. He currently serves as a board member of the World Association of Performing Arts and a council member of the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts. 

Recognised for his contributions to enriching the musical art in Oman and beyond, Umberto Fanni was conferred the Order of Honour in January 2024 by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Royal Opera House Muscat

Royal Opera House Muscat is the leading arts and culture organisation in the Sultanate of Oman, with a vision to serve as a centre of excellence in global cultural engagement. It strives to enrich lives through diverse artistic, cultural, and educational programmes.  

The multi-disciplinary work of Royal Opera House Muscat showcases rich and varied artistic creations from the country, the region, and the world. It also provides a space for culture and socio-economic development reflections and actions, inspires audiences and nurtures creativity with innovative programmes, fosters cultural vitality, promotes cultural tourism, and puts cultural diplomacy into practice by reinvigorating global and multi-disciplinary collaboration and exchange.

www.rohmuscat.org.om

Farah Mattar

Farah Mattar is an experienced cultural affairs professional with over two decades of experience in marketing, communications, and event management specialising in investment promotion. After completing her education, Farah went on to work in the private and public sector for 16 years, honing her skills in country branding, inward investment and global communications.  

In 2019, she joined the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities as the Director of Culture and Arts. In this role, Farah leverages her extensive background to oversee a wide range of cultural initiatives and events that celebrate Bahrain's rich heritage. She is responsible for managing the growth and development of the visual and performance arts, literature, and music among other sectors as well as the management of several key annual festivals within the Kingdom of Bahrain. Farah is passionate about preserving and promoting the country's cultural assets, and works closely with stakeholders to develop programmes that educate and engage both local and international audiences.  

Farah graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1999.  

With her diverse experience, creative problem-solving abilities, and deep commitment to the cultural arts, Farah Mattar plays a crucial role in enriching local programming and showcasing Bahrain's vibrant culture and heritage on the global stage.

Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) is a government entity with a scope of work that includes the culture and national heritage sector, which serves as the executive entity for plans and programmes related to culture, arts, and heritage in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The organisation aims to develop cultural programmes based on its vision, which includes the modernisation and development of cultural infrastructure, as well as the activation of the role of culture in comprehensive social and economic development. Additionally, the sector supports the Bahraini cultural movement by enhancing the role of museums, folklore, and other cultural components in Bahraini society to enrich the local community's knowledge of its ancient history and civilization. The culture sector also supports other cultures worldwide by attracting diverse international cultural events and continuously working to expand the cultural audience base in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Furthermore, BACA promotes the Kingdom and portrays it as a diverse cultural country with openness to cultures of the world.

Cindy Hwang

Cindy Hwang has been an integral part of the performing arts scene in the US and Asia Pacific for over 20 years, and for nearly 10 years in the Middle East. She is the Founder and President of InPulse Creatives, an arts and entertainment agency with the mission to provide creative solutions for artists, creators and stakeholders who have an interest in bringing their work to and partnering with organisations in the MENA and Asia Pacific Regions. Cindy is also the music programmer for Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where she began curating their music series in 2023. Her interest in the international platform started early in her career. After receiving her B.A. in Music Business and M.A. in Music Ecology from New York University, she began her career at BMG International Artist and Repertoire (A&R) before joining CAMI (Columbia Artists Management) in 2002. From 2004 to 2015, she worked with Concert Artists Guild (CAG) as the West Coast and Asia Pacific Booking and Managerial Associate to help mentor and launch young classical musicians and ensembles. And, most recently, Cindy worked with Cadenza Artists as the Director of Booking and Business Development for the Middle East and Far East.

InPulse Creatives

Founded in 2018, InPulse Creatives, LLC is an international arts and entertainment company with a focus on building a platform for creative partnership and awareness in the Middle East and Asia Pacific.   

InPulse Creatives provides creative solutions for artists, creators, and stakeholders who have an interest in developing and bringing their projects into the Middle East and the Asia Pacific. With and international team based in the Middle East, China and New York, our work includes artist representation, touring efforts, talent buying, content curation and programme & cultural management and consulting.

Dr. Joanna C. Lee (Moderator)

Dr. Joanna C. Lee has served as consultant and translator for such institutions as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the New York Asian Film Festival. Since 2004, she is the regular host and interpreter at the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum. She was a publicity consultant for the “Big Five” American orchestras on their Asian tours as well as consulting producer for San Francisco Opera’s Dream of the Red Chamber. She is currently serving as outreach consultant for multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in New York. She has served as an on-stage interpreter for former US President Jimmy Carter, Chinese director Jia Zhangke and artist Xu Bing, as well as provided opera surtitles for the China National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Music Festival. She is the English surtitle author for the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre since 2007.

Photo Credit: Lia Chang

• Simultaneous interpretation is available in English, Cantonese and Putonghua.
• Holders of the HKPAX Full Pass, Day Pass and Student Pass can access all sessions of Conversations. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online pre-registration is required.