The UAE Embassy in Washington, DC and Meridian International Center partnered on a groundbreaking cultural diplomacy program that toured the United States. Called “Past Forward: Contemporary Art from the Emirates,” the comprehensive exhibition told the story of the UAE’s rich history, culture, and rapid development through 50 paintings, sculptures, videos, photographs, and other works by 25 notable Emirati artists. (Image credit: Lateefa bint Maktoum, The Last Look, 2009, Photograph, Courtesy of Dr. Lamees Hamdan)