{"id":71148,"date":"2026-08-31T19:39:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/?page_id=71148"},"modified":"2026-09-13T13:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:36:21","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT US"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"kt-adv-heading71148_894e21-67 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading71148_894e21-67\">ABOUT US<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading71148_832456-81 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-white-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading71148_832456-81\"><strong><strong>magpie is an information hub, commentator, advocate and general observer of the burgeoning arts and culture scene in the Gulf in general and the UAE in particular<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column71148_0028a1-4c\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading71148_d240da-92 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading71148_d240da-92\"><strong>magpie aims to deal with topics that \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-iconlist kt-svg-icon-list-items kt-svg-icon-list-items71148_50cd26-c8 kt-svg-icon-list-columns-1 alignnone kt-list-icon-aligntop has-custom-css\"><ul class=\"kt-svg-icon-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_9b347b-26 kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">feature conscious use of skill and creative imagination;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_5d1dd8-4c kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">go beyond the ordinary to eliciting a reaction from the audience and\/or the participants;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_f237a0-9a kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">match creativity with originality, imagination with ideas, technique with realisation;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_bfaaa5-8f kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">do not have financial or commercial reward as the exclusive or even a notable driver.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-bbd39cb6 wp-block-paragraph\">Within those broad outlines we regard our territory as including this list (brainstormed by the team at our inception back in 2015):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-iconlist kt-svg-icon-list-items kt-svg-icon-list-items71148_15dd53-d2 kt-svg-icon-list-columns-1 alignnone kt-list-icon-aligntop has-custom-css\"><ul class=\"kt-svg-icon-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_1d8acb-5d\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">architecture<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_16fb0d-b2\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">art (just about all genres)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_f219b0-e6\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">book clubs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_fac2a6-44\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">ceramics<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_289baf-c4\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">comedy<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_fc6dc9-37\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">crafts<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_b0918e-1c\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">decorative art<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_5011df-b0\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">design in general (graphic, interior, product, even fashion)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_0744d5-fc\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">drawing<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_28f236-74\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">film and video<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_970062-01\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">glass art (including engraving and studio glass)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_1338de-1f\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">installations, sculpture, 3D art<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_2e09ca-45\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">jewellery<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_0c400a-63\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">metal engraving<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_df9c29-e8\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">music (most genres)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_da5815-40\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">painting<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_937871-a2\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">performance<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_75b1b3-a8\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">poetry<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_ff3807-30\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">photography<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_93dcd9-1b\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">printmaking and posters<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_485e69-c5\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\">writing in general<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-382e2d00 wp-block-paragraph\">(but we\u2019re always prepared to cover anything that fits).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-1\" style=\"color:#d9d5cf\">What&#8217;s in magpie?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-fe3a4424 wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve divided magpie into three main sections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-iconlist kt-svg-icon-list-items kt-svg-icon-list-items71148_975cd1-1f kt-svg-icon-list-columns-1 alignnone kt-list-icon-aligntop has-custom-css\"><ul class=\"kt-svg-icon-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_08a52f-4f kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/agenda\/\">The Agenda<\/a><\/strong> Diary dates for events in and around the Gulf. Typically these will be performances, workshops and exhibitions \u2013 anything with a date, basically. (For art exhibitions and other multi-day \u2018events\u2019 we have one entry for the opening date and a \u2018last chance\u2019 notification for the closing date)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_0fe7fe-86 kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/opportunities\/\">Opportunities<\/a><\/strong> Our pretty comprehensive selected list of open calls, competitions, residencies and similar opportunities for creative practitioners in the region. We summarise what\u2019s on offer, what\u2019s required, and what you get out of it<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-kadence-listitem kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-71148_f583b5-62 kt-svg-icon-list-style-[object Object] has-custom-css\"><span data-name=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_ICON\" data-stroke=\"USE_PARENT_DEFAULT_WIDTH\" data-class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single\" class=\"kadence-dynamic-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/features\/\">Features<\/a><\/strong> Our front page covers long-form previews, reports and comment from the local arts\/culture\/performance\/design scene. For our feature writing we aim for solid editorial research, local relevance, informed opinion and entertaining prose<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-2\" style=\"color:#d9d5cf\">Why &#8216;magpie&#8217;?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-7cf151e0 wp-block-paragraph\">Because a magpie is intelligent, distinctive, loud, and generally noticeable; and because a magpie is a collector of interesting things. All of those are aspirations for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-551d50fe wp-block-paragraph\">We write for people who combine an international appreciation of culture with a commitment to and enthusiasm for their current local environment. They understand that entertainment, engagement and intellectual or imaginative stimulation doesn\u2019t have to involve imported American stars and luxury brands. They value creativity above commerce; they like to be stimulated, whether that&#8217;s to think, to feel emotion, or to laugh out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-abe144ca wp-block-paragraph\">Is that you? If so, you\u2019re in the right place. We don\u2019t expect that every reader will find everything we write about to be of direct relevance; we do expect that they will embrace the principle, share the vibe, and simply enjoy the look and feel of what we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-3\" style=\"color:#d9d5cf\">Ads and sponsors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-81042be5 wp-block-paragraph\">As a matter of policy we run very few <mark style=\"background-color:#fce800\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><mark style=\"background-color:#fce800\" class=\"has-inline-color\">advertisements<\/mark><\/mark>; when we do, they will be simple banner strips on the website and\/or the newsletter. We don&#8217;t do annoying pop-ups or similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-css wp-custom-css-770d8ebc wp-block-paragraph\">And while we don&#8217;t run advertorials, we do sometimes carry <mark style=\"background-color:#fce800\" class=\"has-inline-color\">editorial from a sponsor<\/mark>. This means an article that is written by us in the magpie style on a mutually agreed subject (so it&#8217;s an article that we could have considering running anyhow). Providing it fits the magpie ethos and style, we&#8217;re happy to discuss custom packages to suit a sponsor&#8217;s needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-71148","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/71148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/71148\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpie.ae\/staging4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}