DUBAI: With less than 30 days to go until Expo 2020, there are certainly plenty of things to look forward to. In addition to a series of live performances being kicked off by legendary Iraqi crooner Kadim Al-Sahir and a slew of international restaurants sure to entice even those with the most discerning taste, the upcoming event has announced that it has teamed up with Dubai-based arts hub Alserkal Avenue on a series of cultural events. Ads by optAd360 For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle Titled “Cultures in Conversation,” the initiative, commissioned by the Expo, is part of “Build Bridges,” one of the five tracks under Expo’s Program for People and Planet. The Program for People and Planet at Expo 2020 addresses the world’s most critical issues and opportunities, aiming to inspire collective and meaningful action. Through five tracks – Build Bridges, Leave No One Behind, Live in Balance, Thrive Together and UAE Vision 2071 – this program will explore humanity’s most pressing challenges through cultural, social, environmental and economic lenses. The inaugural “Cultures in Conversation” session will take place on the Saturday of each Theme Week, kicking off on Oct. 9, 2021, as part of Climate and BioDiversity Week, with the final session being held on March 26, 2022. The program will feature a series of multi-disciplinary events, cross-cultural conversations and artistic interventions with an array of UAE-based poets, artist collectives, academics and diplomats, exploring pertinent topics at the heart of today’s cultural conversations through immersive experiences, artist interventions, informal conversations and performances. Syrian contemporary choreography company Sima Dance Company; poet, artist and film director Nujoom Alghanem and author Charles Landry are just some of those taking part in the initiative. Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, founder of Alserkal, said: “At Alserkal we share Expo 2020’s commitment to sustainable innovation and providing a platform for global exchange. Expo 2020 Dubai is a historic moment uniting the world and drawing attention to today’s challenges while imagining ambitious solutions. Alserkal is proud to help shape thinking around these urgent issues.” Ads by optAd360 “Cultures in Conversation” is Alserkal’s first project with Expo 2020 Dubai. The events are free to ticket-holding members of the public.