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: 20 February 2025

19 February 2025

The quote This present moment was once the unimaginable future Stewart Brand Today’s the day Happening today (Thursday): Xposure, the region’s biggest and best festival of photography, running till next Wednesday in its hew Aljada home … a celebration of the embroidery crafts of Freej Al [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 13 February 2025

7 February 2025

The quote If you want new ideas, read old books Shane Parrish Last-minute music The Tamaas Festival is the latest offer from NYUAD’s Arts Center in its perennial quest to bring clever, imaginative, exciting new music to Abu Dhabi from around the world. We have a [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 6 February 2025

6 February 2025

The quote Labels are for jam jars Richard Flanagan Today’s the day Happening today (thursday): the first day – of three – for the Sharjah Biennial opening programme. Pritzker prizewinner Riken Yamamoto talks about the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities. And Gregory Nava’s El [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 30 January 2025

31 January 2025

The quote Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole David Lynch Biennial bit The opening events of Sharjah Biennial 16 run from 6 to 9 February, mostly in and around the galleries of Arts Square but also taking in performances, activations and screenings [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 12 December 2024

12 December 2024

The quote It took me 15 years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give up because by that time I was too famous Peter Benchley Musical notes Dubai Opera’s big musical Singin’ in the Rain [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 5 December 2024

5 December 2024

The quote Life is like a 10-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use Charles M Schulz Gaza Mon Amour A group of 50+ Palestinian artists is trying to set up a Gaza Biennale, looking for a location and [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 28 November 2024

28 November 2024

The quote The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life, or better to endure it Samuel Johnson Documenting the UAE The inaugural Dhikhr Award, launched by the NYUAD Institute to recognise “individuals who have made exceptional [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 21 November 2024

21 November 2024

Public art We’ve updated our sort-of guide to Abu Dhabi’s Public Art Biennial: check it out here, and we’re also listing associated public events in the Agenda The word from our people on the ground is that the Biennial is very good (and there’s [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 14 November 2024

14 November 2024

More Tides The Art Gallery at NYUAD is extending Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial – originally due to close 8 December, it will now stay open to 20 April. This is good news: it’s a significant exhibition that brings together a range [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 7 November 2024

7 November 2024

The Art Fair beat Takeaways from last month’s London-Paris art fairs: Frieze London / Frieze Masters and Art Basel Paris are different enough, they both have really good satellites like 1:54 at Somerset House and NADA in Paris, the short [… more]