The 2019 conference was the culmination of Nuqat’s three-year research tour to understand and analyse the state of the Creative Economy in the Middle East. The main outcome of the research was that in order to define the Creative Economy, the Arab region needs to establish a new mindset to solve its problems. The talks covered; why we should engage in understanding and critiquing our mindsets, where can the future take us if we change our mindsets, and look at how readapting the mindset can yield pragmatic approaches.
With these questions, we looked at barriers faced on three levels:
PERSONAL BARRIERS
Personal obstacles lie in learning and growing as individuals. We wanted like to motivate attendees to embrace self-compassion and understand the importance of emotional intelligence.
SOCIAL BARRIERS
In this discussion dissected age-old social stigmas and cultural norms. We wanted to crush the collective fear of failure and experimentation, and give attendees the tools they need to overcome it.ext and links, or connect data from your collection.
STRUCTURAL BARRIERS
It include bureaucratic governmental and legislative policies, inter and intra-nation dynamics, and our physical environment. In this discussion we instigated conversations and critiqued the mindsets that have shaped the current institutions around us in hopes of creating reform.
2019 Nuqat Regional Conference - Talks
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2019 Nuqat Regional Conference - Workshops
Public Planet Partnerships
by Leena & Tariq Olaimy
In this workshop, participants learned how to create mutually beneficial partnerships with nature and learned how they can collaborate with our planet and use it as a resource. For example, one group of participants learned how they could partner with plants and trees to reduce food waste.
Placemaking
by Rony Jalkh
In this workshop, participants learned what makes a public space strive and promote community engagement, well-being and happiness. They visited Souk Al Mubarakiya and understood the needs of its visitors and mapped out its problems. After conducting interviews with people who work and visit the souk and inviting the public to vote for facilities they would like to see in the area, participants rendered projects like green spaces, mobile libraries and children’s play areas.
2019 Nuqat Regional Conference - Collaborators
In November 2018 we held a public open call as we wanted to engage and activate the community. Through this open call, we were able to create a robust and diverse programme filled with art exhibitions and installations and skill and problem-based workshops. Out of 90 applicants 38 were chosen to be a part of our programme
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art & cultural activities
Hafez Gallery MNWR
East Ahmadi Market by Huda AbdulMoghni
Sur-re/vival by Amani Al Thuwaini
Choreography of a Desert Fountain by Athoub AlBusaili
CCD with Nuqat
Seeing Sounds by Vinyl Destination
Only as the sun sets by Dr. Eman Al Shawaf
Ruins to Reality by Elias Elsoueidi
Stand behind the yellow line by DHC
Season of Migration to the North by Tayib Salih by Dongola
Family Portrait by Ramah Husseini
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performances
& Film screening
Moon Ribas
DJ Cascou
Bishr
Talent Shop
Zeina Daccache
Cinescape
SERVICE HERO SURVEY FINDINGS
In order to register for the Nuqat 2019 Regional Conference, participants had to complete a survey that was created in collaboration with Service Hero. The survey’s main objectives were to understand people’s definition of mindset, the factors that affect their creative thinking and their expectations of the conference.
Out of 1,188 respondents, most said that personal factors (7.8) are the highest enablers to creative thinking – followed by social factors (7.3), and structural factors (7.2).
Meanwhile, respondents’ own personal curiosity was stated as the highest single factor in helping achieve a creative mindset (8.6). On the other hand, the largest deterrents to creative thinking were governmental laws and bureaucracy (6.6).
When asked “What does mindset mean to you?” -- most respondents said attitudes and opinions are the most prevalent definition of mindset. The importance of the conference theme was rated at 8.1, while respondents rated the likelihood of them
Testimonials
“Thank you, immensely, for bringing such a powerful and inspiring conference to life. I was deeply touched by all your warmth and kindness to me. Our people and our region have so much potential and these types of gatherings with high impact individuals are necessary for us to change our condition and to help benefit our world.”
-Mokhtar Alkhanshali
“Thank you for opening my eyes to the work of several excellent thinkers and innovators whom I met at Nuqat. The work you’re doing is truly of immense value in our world. “
-Tarek Osman
“I am so touched by this conference. That’s not just lip service. I attend conferences around the world. Your passion and excitement when planning Nuqat was beyond anything I have ever seen. When I participate in a conference I usually give my talk and leave -- but with Nuqat I attended all three days of talks. I didn’t want to miss a moment. I’ve never been to a conference like this before. It’s unbelievably special what you guys have.”
-Dr.Mohammad Al Suwaidan
“It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of Nuqat this year, and we're thrilled you received such positive feedback. You have created an incredible and much-needed space in our region, and it was an honor to be a part of it.”
-Nadia Muijrers from the Waaw in Between
