About the Panelists

Dr. Stephanie Rosenthal is Director of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project. Until 2022, she served as Director of Gropius Bau in Berlin. Prior to this role, she held prominent curatorial positions at the Hayward Gallery in London and Haus der Kunst in Munich. In 2016, she was Artistic Director of the 20th Biennale of Sydney, and in 2019, she chaired the jury of the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Rosenthal is a member of the Board of CIMAM (International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art) for the 2026–2028 term.

Nawar Al Qassimi serves as Vice President of Sharjah Art Foundation, working in a senior leadership position alongside the Director and Senior Management Team to oversee the Foundation’s administrative, operative and creative departments. In her role, Al Qassimi is responsible for steering both long-term key strategic initiatives as well as new programmatic developments and departments. Since joining the Foundation in 2010, Al Qassimi has worked in roles across numerous departments building a unique perspective and understanding of the organisation as a whole. A highly visible and respected cultural figure in the UAE, Al Qassimi works to build and strengthen the Foundation’s cultural, governmental and corporate relationships with local, regional and international partners. Born and raised in Sharjah, UAE, Al Qassimi graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2008. She is a critical figure representing the Foundation at cultural events worldwide as both a speaker and spokesperson. A member of the Sharjah Tourism Advisory Committee, Al Qassimi has served on international juries for events including the Karama Film Festival in 2020 and the Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, in 2023.

Faisal Al Hassan is the Director of 421 Arts Campus. He directs the programming and operations of 421. Through his job, he continues to promote the space’s position as a regional leader in supporting emerging creative practitioners. He also leads in setting the strategy for programming, community-led initiatives, and developing institutional partnerships here in the UAE and internationally. Prior to his current position within 421, Faisal was the Public Programs Manager at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi before that. Among the projects he worked on are Manarat Al Saadiyat, Qasr Al Hosn Festival, and Abu Dhabi Art. With more than 17 years of experience in cultural production and international relations, Faisal’s career includes working in the Royal Court of Jordan and working on several global events, including the World Economic Forum, Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates, the Royal Film Commission, and the Jordan Media Institute. Faisal received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a specialization in International Relations from the American University in Cairo, and later received a diploma from the Institute of Diplomacy in Jordan.

Vilma Jurkute is an independent researcher, advisor, and cultural strategist with two decades of experience shaping communities and global destinations through arts and culture.

Across New York, Chicago, London, and Dubai, Vilma’s career centers on cultivating resilient creative economies and communities. Most notably, she spent 14 years shaping the Alserkal brand and community from the ground up—building its cultural framework and vision alongside her team. As its leader, she directed the $20M expansion of Alserkal Avenue into a 500,000 sq. ft. cultural destination, established highly successful new income streams by launching and scaling Alserkal Advisory, and fostered regional talent through the non-profit Alserkal Arts Foundation.

Vilma’s expertise lies at the critical intersection of community, arts and culture, and the future of cities. She holds an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s in International Business from GGSB, France, with research exploring how cultural ecosystems impact social, economic, and environmental spectrums.

A sought-after global speaker on creative districts and urban development, Vilma has presented at Art Basel Hong Kong, We Are Museums, and The New York Times: Art for Tomorrow. Her insights are frequently featured in prominent international media, including the Financial Times, Forbes, CNN, and The National.

Moderator: Mikey Muhanna (Founder & Executive Director of afikra)