Entrenched in response to the instant challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic infecting the cultural and creative sector in the UAE, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Art Dubai Group released the Dubai Ideathon. Commencing from April 7 8, the workshop sessions brought together global experts from various fields, all working together to discover solutions.

Commencing on the 22nd of March, the initiative started with online workshops where 70 members of Dubais cultural SMEs and freelancers came together to find out the major difficulties facing the local innovative community, from which list of challenges was put together.

On the 31stof March, an Open Call was revealed to ask for submissions to address the challenges and join the Dubai Ideathon. Within three days, 320 submissions were received which ensued in over 100 people being selected to assist identifying solutions in workshops taking place on the 7th and 8th of April.

Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, expressed her pride in the distinguished results of Ideathon, emphasizing its significance in monitoring possible solutions to the challenges facing the cultural sector in the UAE in light of the present crisis. She stated that, "The Ideathon initiative offered us with a special model for the spirit of responsibility and positivity as well as the values of cooperation and solidarity. There is no doubt that this initiative will open broad prospects for us in the next stage to attain potential solutions that can be put into effect to aid the innovative and cultural societies in the country facing the challenges in the present pandemic.

Pav Szymanski Artist and Fine Art Lecturer stated: The Dubai Ideathon united a wide spectrum of innovative individuals in a moment of crisis from throughout the globe. Above all, it provide us a new sense of direction, future vision and fulfilled the most significant of all needs to belong and actualize.

On the 20thof April, the organizers of Dubai Ideathon, that consist of ATLYE design agency and Alcove Advisors, along with the Art Dubai Group, will collate the numerous ideas conceived and will present a series of solutions to Dubai Culture that will be a mixture of policy suggestions to assist support the cultural industry and community activations that can go into prototyping.