HANAN SAYED WORRELL
Hanan is a specialist in the formulation and development of complex international and cultural projects, with over 25 years in both the public and private sectors including Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Energy and Aviation. As a native Arabic speaker and long-term resident of the Gulf, Hanan has contributed professionally to several of the most impactful projects in the region including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Currently, she is the Senior Representative for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in Abu Dhabi, with responsibilities for the planning and development of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum in Saadiyat Cultural District. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and American Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi. In the past Hanan has served on the Board of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, NYUAD Mentorship Program and Selection Committee for Sheikh Mohammed Scholars Program.
If there was one piece of art you could feature in, which would it be and why?
Edward Hopper Nighthawks.
Who inspires you and why? An artist, a family member, someone current or historical?
Many! Its hard to pick one. Most recently an author friend, Mai Al Naqib, who completed her first short story collection entitled The Hidden Light of Objects. The young singer from Palestine who won Arab Idol, Muhamad Assaf, and Suheir Hammad, a Palestinian-American poet and author.
What are your cultural aspirations? What do you still want to see, do and achieve?
My cultural aspirations are to see the arts and culture integrated more deeply in our cities in the Middle East for community benefit.
What are your favourite cultural cities in the world and why?
London still ranks high. The variety on offer in terms of museums, performances, theatre, established and experimental, as well as connections to other cultures (south Asian and Middle East).
What are you up to at the moment and where can we find it?
I am the Senior Advisor and Representative for the Guggenheim Foundation developing the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project. I am based in Abu Dhabi.