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: 31 October 2024

1 November 2024

Going public DCT Abu Dhabi has announced some details of the upcoming Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial (which will be alternating with the Manar Abu Dhabi light art festival, inaugurated last year). The Biennial will run 15 November to 30 April 30, with [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 24 October 2024

24 October 2024

Spoiled for choice As usual there’s a lot going on this weekend, but we’ll be making time for The Ice Hole (best play of the year so far?) and Mute on stage, Kes and Dancing Pina on screen, and Rand Abdul JabbarandFariba Boroufar on a gallery wall near you. And [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 17 October 2024

17 October 2024

Give for Lebanon The UAE public raised AED 110 million in the first week of the aid-for-Lebanon campaign, says The National. You can still do your bit via this link. Urban gems DCT Abu Dhabi is inviting nominations to its fourth [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 10 October 2024

10 October 2024

Give for Lebanon The official ‘UAE stands with Lebanon’ campaign has launched. There are lots of opportunities to contribute, but perhaps the simplest is a donation to the Emirates Red Crescent via this link. Architecture Biennale curated Azza Aboualam, assistant professor [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 3 October 2024

3 October 2024

Open here NYUAD Art Gallery’s Fall show Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial is now open, and it’s every bit as impressive as we expected. Featuring a variety of work by 21 artists, architects, designers, and collectives from the UAE, [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 26 September 2024

26 September 2024

Tonight’s busy Lots of good things happening today (thursday): Candice Lin’s installation opens at the Jameel, there’s an open mike night at the Fridge (spot Dubai’s next big thing?) and a PowerPointless at the Courtyard (always very funny), and we’re [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 19 September 2024

20 September 2024

Pitch perfect? The deadline for the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition for start-up entrepreneurs (must be less than two years from launch) has been extended by a month to 30 September. If you reach the shortlist you can pitch your [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 12 September 2024

13 September 2024

Move in the right direction The Junction is launching an eight-month Director’s Programme to train, mentor, and develop emerging directors, culminating in the opportunity to direct a full-length play in any language. It’s obviously not a full time course, but [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 25 July 2024

25 July 2024

421 funding artists 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi has named the seven artists selected for its 2024-25 capacity-building programmes – Alla Abdunabi, Ana Escobar and Juma Alhaj in the Artistic Development Program; Shama Al Hamed, Adrian Pepe, Yousif Abdulsaid and Farah [… more]

COMMENT

Comment: 18 July 2024

18 July 2024

Capital jazz Abu Dhabi has been selected as ‘Global Host’ for the 2025 edition of International Jazz Day (run by UNESCO, celebrated each year on 30 April). We’re promised that “the celebration in this cosmopolitan city will embody the power [… more]