A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme calls for arts-integrated learning as AI reshapes the skills children need

Artist-led workshops invite schoolchildren to practise critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving

DUBAI, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, September 15, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The sixth edition of the A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme is now under way across the UAE, bringing The Bigfoot Project, a new artist-designed workshop, to children aged five to 17 in 80 schools across all seven emirates.

As AI becomes part of how children learn, the programme is calling for creative learning to become a core part of the curriculum. Its hands-on workshops encourage students to imagine, consider another perspective, and explore ideas, while building their artistic skills.

The programme reflects wider national and international education priorities. The UAE’s National Innovation Strategy identifies critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, perseverance, and adaptability as targeted skills for students. In 2024, UNESCO Member States adopted the global Framework for Culture and Arts Education, calling for culture and the arts to play a greater role in education policies, curricula, programmes, and teacher training.

The importance of these capabilities is also reflected in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which ranks creative thinking fourth among the core skills employers value and identifies it as one of the skills expected to grow in importance by 2030.

Launched in 2021 by A.R.M. Holding in partnership with Art Dubai, the programme commissions a different international and/or local artist or designer each year to develop a bespoke workshop designed for UAE-based children. It has reached more than 35,000 children since inception, making it the largest cultural education initiative in the country.

The programme has evolved over six editions, growing from workshops only held during Art Dubai fair to a school-based model to reach more communities across the country. It has then expanded to include adapted workshops for people of determination and masterclasses for educators, and deepened its focus on environmental themes, local context, and ecology.


The Bigfoot Project

Running until 4 November 2026, The Bigfoot Project is a concept developed by internationally exhibited Lithuanian artist Tomas Daukša whose practice is playful and research-led blending art, science, fact, and fiction.

The workshop reimagines Bigfoot, a legendary large, human-like creature, as a curious traveller arriving in an unfamiliar place. Children are invited to imagine how it might experience its surroundings and design miniature habitats that help the character feel safe and at home – which encourages them to practise empathy and perspective-taking.


As part of the wider programme, teachers across the UAE will be engaged through online workshops, designed to provide educators with practical and classroom-ready approaches to nurturing creativity within their students.


H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of A.R.M. Holding, said: “For us, cultural patronage means more than providing access to art. It means investing in the next generation’s capabilities to help them prepare for a changing world. Six years ago, we began advocating for arts-integrated education. Today, as AI becomes part of our everyday life, human skills and sound judgment matter more than ever.”

“We want the impact to extend even further with the ambition to contribute to the UAE’s capacity, so we have designed our programme to build creative learning infrastructure and consider the evolving educational landscape. And we are committed to seeing this through via teacher masterclasses and growing school partnerships,” he continued.


Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai Group, said: “Working with a practising artist allows children to experience creativity and critical thinking together as it happens. Schools are where those skills are first formed, and so we bring this creative learning experience to them. Through our work across Art Dubai Fair and Art Dubai Projects, we look ahead to future challenges and build practical models that respond to them. Our partnership with A.R.M. Holding that brought our shared vision to life in multiple ways over the years demonstrates what sustained cultural investment looks like.”


Schools can register through the Art Dubai website until 25 September 2026. Slots are limited.

Sheila Tobias
S T A R T Marketing and PR
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