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magpie Weekly, our free email newsletter, is an essential read for anyone interested in the same kind of things that engage us at magpie. It’s mailed on Thursdays throughout the year (we do take short breaks in the summer and at the turn of the year). In it you’ll find …

From the nest – key news for our community summarised, with the editor’s (usually opinionated) commentary
Five ‘not to be missed’ upcoming events selected from the full Agenda listings
Three of the latest open calls and other opportunities for artists and other creatives from our Opportunities page
As a bonus, we include a quote for the week (inspirational, entertaining or apposite, or sometimes all three); and our Earworm of the week, the tune that is currently doing it for us in magpie’s offices.

Here are the most recent From the nest sections:

magpie Weekly issue 7.09 / 13 Nov 2025

13 November 2025

The quote: Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance Rem Koolhaas … Abu Dhabi art week? Abu Dhabi seems to be acquiring an art week, possibly a whole art festival. There’s Abu Dhabi Art (plus its beyond-the-art-fair manifestations) and the Manar Abu Dhabi public [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.08 / 06 Nov 2025

6 November 2025

The quote: Literature has the same impact as a match lit in the middle of a field in the middle of the night. The match illuminates relatively little, but it enables us to see how much darkness surrounds it William Faulkner [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.07 / 30 Oct 2025

30 October 2025

The quote Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late Benjamin Franklin Dubai gets a museum too The big news in Dubai this week was the announcement of DUMA, the Dubai Museum of Art. So far there’s [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.06 / 23 Oct 2025

23 October 2025

The quote It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good Paula Scher ZNM opens RSN The Zayed National Museum will open its doors to the public on 3 December – more than 3,000 artefacts in the [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.05 / 16 Oct 2025

16 October 2025

The quote Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction Francis Picabia It’s the end of Abu Dhabi Art as we know it Having established itself as the biggest regional art fair of 2025, Abu Dhabi Art will have just one more edition [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.04 / 9 Oct 2025

9 October 2025

The quote Every day you live, you make a difference. You matter. You’re here for a reason. Find the reason. And do your bit. Then, we can save the world Jane Goodall Critical choice Sharjah Art Foundation has named the five [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.03 / 2 Oct 2025

2 October 2025

The quote: I recommend the freedom that comes from asking: “Compared to what?” Gloria Steinem Catch ’em while you can Today and tomorrow (1 and 2 October) Abu Dhabi’s Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is hosting the first public fine art show [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.02 / 25 Sep 2025

25 September 2025

The quote: The cause of death is birth David Hockney A smile for Gaza Just when you think it couldn’t be worse, a group of 9-11 year old children in Gaza made a funny animated film about displacement, friendship and a large fridge. Artist [… more]

magpie Weekly issue 7.01 / 18 Sep 2025

18 September 2025

The quote: World is crazier and more of it than we think / Incorrigibly plural Louis MacNiece And, just like that, summer’s over and magpie Weekly is back – ready, willing, nay eager to keep you up to date with an [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 17 July 2025

16 July 2025

The quote: If you are like most people, then like most people, you don’t know you’re like most people Daniel Gilbert ZNM to open this year December 2025 has been confirmed for the opening of the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat. The PR [… more]