COMMENT

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:

COMMENT

Comment: 30 April 2025

1 May 2025

The quote We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same Carlos Castaneda Jazz Abu Dhabi … It was International Jazz Day yesterday (30 April), but jazz is big for the next few weeks [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 24 April 2025

24 April 2025

The quote Advice to writers: sometimes you just have to stop writing. Even before you begin Stanisław Jerzy Lec Hatta tip Get yourself to Leem Lake in Hatta to see Deliberate Pauses, an al fresco installation by Shaikha Al Mazrou. The lake is a bit [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 17 April 2025

17 April 2025

The quote Try to stay passionate, leave your cool to constellations. Passion, above all, is a remedy against boredom Joseph Brodsky Dubai’s the place to be That’s because it’s Art Dubai time, of course, and much of the cultural ecosystem is surfing on [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 10 April 2025

10 April 2025

The quote There is an art, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss Douglas Adams Buy the numbers The global art market in 2024 was down 12% on the year [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 3 April 2025

3 April 2025

The quote We are never definitely right; we can only be sure we are definitely wrong Richard Feynman See me, feel me We’ve been watching DXB Unheard, basically so that you don’t have to. It’s an eight-episode podcast that “celebrates and uncovers [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 27 March 2025

27 March 2025

The quote Toys are really not as innocent as they look. Toys and games are the preludes to serious ideas Charles Eames Design for performance World Stage Design is a pretty special event, a quadrennial celebration of how any and every kind [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 20 March 2025

20 March 2025

The quote The world is a museum of other people’s passion projects John Collison Jazz Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, UNESCO-designated City of Music, is hosting the All-Star International Jazz Day concert on 30 April (featuring Herbie Hancock, as usual, plus a galaxy of [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 13 March 2025

13 March 2025

The quote Poetry is everywhere; it just needs editing James Tate Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale Nora Razian, head of exhibitions and programs at Art Jameel in Dubai and Jeddah, and Sabih Ahmed, project adviser for Dubai’s Ishara Art Foundation, have [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 6 March 2025

6 March 2025

The quote The things you do badly are as much part of your style as the things you do well Martin Scorsese Art Dubai detailed The Art Dubai people have been outlining more of the programming for the fair’s 2025 edition (18-20 April). Highlights [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 27 February 2025

27 February 2025

The quote Self employment is a never-ending contest between the world’s worst manager and the world’s laziest employee Daniel Akst Phenomenal teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will officially open its elegantly styled doors to the public in Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi on 18 [… more]