The sixth edition of A.R.M. Holding’s Children’s Programme brings The Bigfoot Project workshops to 80 UAE schools, advancing arts-based learning, teacher training, and inclusion as policy and job-skill forecasts shift with AI.
The programme runs across all seven emirates in 80 schools and targets children aged 5–17 with artist-designed workshops.
The Bigfoot Project encourages empathy, perspective-taking, and hands-on art skills through designing miniature habitats.
A.R.M. Holding pairs school workshops with online teacher masterclasses to build classroom-ready creative-learning practices.
# What happened A.R.M. Holding launched the sixth edition of its Children's Programme across the UAE. The programme delivers The Bigfoot Project, an artist-designed workshop, to children aged five to 17 in 80 schools across all seven emirates. It also provides online masterclasses for teachers and adapted sessions for learners with different needs.
# Why it matters now AI is changing how children will learn and what employers will value. The programme positions arts-integrated learning as a response: practical, school-based activities that develop creativity, perspective-taking, and problem-solving—skills cited by UAE policy and international frameworks as increasingly important.
# Project does Developed by Lithuanian artist Tomas Daukša, The Bigfoot Project reframes the Bigfoot legend as a curious traveller arriving in an unfamiliar place. Students imagine how the character experiences its surroundings and design miniature habitats to make it feel safe. The activity is explicitly designed to practise empathy and perspective-taking while teaching art techniques.
# How the programme is structured
# Policy and evidence alignment The programme references the UAE's National Innovation Strategy, which targets critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, perseverance, and adaptability for students. It also notes UNESCO's 2024 Framework for Culture and Arts Education that encourages integrating culture and the arts into curricula and teacher training. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 is cited for ranking creative thinking among high-value employer skills.
# Scale and evolution
# Leadership perspective H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of A.R.M. Holding, frames the programme as an investment in the next generation's capabilities and emphasizes that, as AI becomes commonplace, human skills and sound judgment grow in importance. Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai Group, highlights the value of working with practising artists to combine creativity and critical thinking and bringing those experiences into schools.
# Practical next steps for schools Schools can register for the current edition through the Art Dubai website until 25 September 2026. Participation is limited by available slots.
# Bottom line Programme focuses on hands-on, arts-integrated learning across a broad school network while supporting teachers with classroom-ready approaches. It frames arts education as a concrete way to develop human-centered skills that complement technological change in learning and work.
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