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Within the Jean Monnet European Chair “Bridges Horizons”, the Art Bridges axis—directed from the Department of History of Art and Archaeology at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi—is dedicated to advancing research, teaching, and dialogue at the intersection of art, culture, heritage, and intercultural exchange between Europe and the Arab world.
At a time of profound global transformation, marked by geopolitical tensions, cultural reconfigurations, and shifting narratives of identity, the need for sustained intercultural dialogue and collaborative knowledge production has become increasingly urgent. Bridges Art responds to this challenge by promoting a global, interconnected, postcolonial, and pluriversalist approach to the arts and humanities—one that recognises the coexistence of multiple artistic traditions, foregrounds local knowledge, and encourages critical engagement across cultural and disciplinary boundaries.
Rooted in the conviction that the arts and education are powerful vectors of dialogue, the axis places particular emphasis on the study, interpretation, and transmission of the UAE’s artistic histories and cultural heritage, situating them within broader regional and international frameworks. Through research initiatives, academic programmes, and partnerships, Bridges Art seeks to foster reciprocal exchanges between Europe, the Arab world, and the Global South.
Its activities aim to support Emirati and international students and emerging researchers, artists or curators; enhance the documentation, visibility, and critical study of Emirati and Arab arts and heritage; and build enduring bridges between diverse scholarly traditions. By cultivating spaces of transmission, collaboration, and co-creation, the axis encourages new forms of intellectual exchange grounded in mutual respect and shared inquiry.
Within this framework, the Jean Monnet Chair acts as a catalyst, reinforcing these commitments by promoting open, rigorous, and innovative dialogue. By bringing perspectives from the UAE into conversation with global academic debates and creators, Art Bridges contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural heritage as a living, dynamic field and to the development of meaningful, long-term collaborations across regions.
