This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest
The quote: The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas | Linus Pauling …
AED 1bn for Dubai creatives … sort of Dubai Culture has produced a ‘Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio’, described as a new AED 1bn support package with five ‘pillars’ – 1.spaces and premises 2.grants and other funding 3.exposure and marcomms 4.professional development 5.more public art. We’ve tried to figure out what this involves, we wondered how the 1bn has been calculated, we looked in vain for a website (or even a reference on Dubai Culture’s), and we have a load more questions …
Beautiful museums The Prix Versailles people have unveiled their 2026 list of the World’s Most Beautiful Museums, with the Zayed National Museum named as one of seven that “provide a real illustration of how strength and talent can be revealed through harmony, sensitivity and sharing” …
Making makers Abu Dhabi’s Contemporary Makers initiative returns for 2026 as Digital Fabrication, “a hands-on programme exploring how ideas move beyond the screen and into the real world”. Developed by Guggenheim Abu Dhabi with MAKE and SWALIF, it introduces participants (UAE-based 18–25 year olds) to tools such as laser cutting and CNC – no experience needed, though. There’s one full-day training session in the first week of June followed by eight Thursday evenings, 5-7pm, 11 June to 30 July. Registration deadline: 15 May …
Betting on war The US Anti-Corruption Data Collective has been researching prediction markets, looking at Polymarket to see how often long shot bets pay off (long shots are bets with a probability of 35% or lower and a value of $2,500 and above). Seems 52% of bets on military and security matters succeed, compared to an average of only 14% for long shot bets in other areas. Surely it couldn’t be insider trading …
Teach artists to teach The sixth cohort of the Teaching Artist Fellowship at Manarat Al Saadiyat has been named – Asma Khoory, Faissal El Malak, Hala Abora, Karine Roche, Salmah Almansoori, Sara Afaneh. It’s a five-month residency that supports artists in developing their teaching practice and “exploring the connection between creative practice and learning within a dynamic studio environment”. Look out for programmes and workshops led by this year’s fellows …
Sign of the times Spotify is adding green-tick ‘verified’ badges to indicate music that has been made by humans rather than AI. Proof of humanity includes gig dates, merch, and linked social accounts on the artist’s profile …
Where are they now Here’s a Bluesky thread from the excellently inquisitive Annie Rauwerda on the original owners of familiar URLs. So spacex.com belonged to a guy who provided “marketing solutions for Christian media ministries”, doordash.com was a porn site, tiktok.com was the homepage of a couple whose relationship progressed from dating to married with a baby …
Three to see soon Several gallery shows are closing shortly, clearing the decks for Art Dubai adjacent exhibitions. We’ll be revisiting Alserkal’s impressive multi-gallery show in Concrete, Déjà Vu (ends 8 May); Ethiopian art photography by Aïda Muluneh at Efie (9 May); the impressive Nihad Al Turk at Ayyam (9 May) …
More Dawood Phase two of the important Shezad Dawood Skin of Dreams exhibition has now opened, adding the final two episodes of the seminal Leviathan Cycle film series to more than 15 years of pioneering interdisciplinary work in this mid-career retrospective. Recommended – and you have all summer to see it: it’s at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi to 20 Sept …
Design win for Sharjah Sharjah’s Base39 has signed a deal with the Milan-based Isola Design design/architecture platform to hold the Isola Design Award 2026 in Sharjah this November; the Award is an international competition with winners in eight disciplines and is regarded as a pretty big deal. Base39 has been busily establishing its own credentials since it was set up late last year; and this looks like a bit of a coup for the creative district / innovation hub, for Isola Design has a permanent space in Dubai and has featured prominently at Dubai Design Week for the last couple of years …
The Devil Wears LouvreAD Designed by luxury brand Dellaluna as “an elegant Maxi Clutch with a crossbody strap”, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Bag (yep) has been launched at the Venice Biennale – having already been seen with Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2. It’s made in “luxurious Togo leather” with 18ct gold-plated fittings, was “conceived as an extension of the museum’s narrative” (says the museum) and is “a sophisticated statement piece destined to stand out” that offers “effortless versatility from day to evening” (says Dellaluna). Yours for just €2,500, tax and shipping included …
Useful app of the week Lummi is a curated library of free images made by AI creators who are tired of boring, overused stock photos. So AI, but acceptable. Find it here …
Something for the weekend Were they evil? Guess the famous historic figure from the five clues. There’s an obvious Western (and especially US) bias but it’s still good fun. Try it here …
Things we didn’t know no.94 Stolen fries taste 40% more delicious than legally acquired equivalents, according to a new study …
Earworm of the week Folk Bitch Trio : Cathode Ray
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