CANNES: The Arab region can be the next global center for the arts because of the burgeoning number of talented performers showing they deserve a spot on the world stage, says award-winning comedian and actor Mo Amer.

鈥淎bsolutely, it (the Arab region) can be the next creative hub. It鈥檚 all about how you nurture it, and how you take care of it, and how you groom it. It鈥檚 very hard to be conscious of those things,鈥� Amer told Arab News recently at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival for Creativity.

He emphasized that monetary investment can rarely produce quality talent, and championed the importance of education, practice, and reinforcing culture in creative industries.

鈥淚 think that you can be very progressive, but still very grounded in our historical roots 鈥� I think that there is a great opportunity right now to cultivate that, and I鈥檓 very excited to not only see it, but be a part of it,鈥� he said.

The actor and comedian applauded the efforts of Saudis who are making their way on to the global entertainment scene, in particular comedian-turned-rapper Moayad Alnefaie, who appeared regularly on Amer鈥檚 hit Netflix TV series 鈥淢o.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 an immense amount of talent that鈥檚 coming out of Saudi right now, and that鈥檚 a beautiful thing. I want to see more and more of that, and it鈥檚 my responsibility to help them if they ever asked me, or call for me, I would be there for them to help guide them through things that they might need,鈥� Amer said.

He said many Arab-American artists are making significant progress in the creative world as performers and business executives. It is arguably, Amer said, more important to be on the business side of things, to create greater opportunities for the Arab region.

He said the artists coming out of the Middle East should be innovative and create genres, while also staying true to their roots.

鈥淲e come from a language that has trilateral roots, they come from a complex, deeply detailed language. What a privilege to have come from that. It鈥檚 our responsibility to inform the world of this, and I think that we鈥檙e living in a time where we can do that,鈥� he said.

It is the artist鈥檚 role to also be educated on and articulate the history of the region. 鈥淵ou got to do your homework,鈥� Amer said. When releasing works, whether music or TV or other creative ventures 鈥渂eing timely and timeless are really crucial,鈥� he said.

Comedy is largely viewed as a palatable way to introduce controversial issues into the public sphere. In his own stand-up career, Amer has chosen to platform the events that have and continue to shape his life 鈥� being racially profiled at airports, difficulties in gaining US citizenship 鈥� and even debates on the origins of hummus.

He said: 鈥淪ometimes, it鈥檚 just okay to be entertaining 鈥� Not everything has to have thought behind it. I personally choose to do that, because it鈥檚 the most invigorating for me. It鈥檚 what makes me excited because it is different. It is informative, it is really funny, but also makes a point.鈥� 

Much of his work seeks to reframe the stereotypical narrative on the Arab region, seeking not to focus exclusively on conflict and political issues, but with a forward-looking approach.

鈥淲e are definitely one of the most underrepresented minorities in the entire world. Given what we鈥檝e contributed to humanity, that鈥檚 just mind blowing 鈥� I think it鈥檚 really important just to focus on the future and not to look back. It鈥檚 against our own religious beliefs, actually. 鈥榃hat if鈥� is discouraged completely.

He said the question should be posed differently: 鈥淲hat do we do now? How do we move forward and create something special?鈥�

Amer would not provide details of his future plans, and would only say he was 鈥渃ooking something.鈥�