This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote:<\/mark><\/strong> I became a journalist partly so that I wouldn\u2019t ever have to rely on the press for my information\u00a0| Christopher Hitchens …<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Abu Dhabi dates<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial 2026-27<\/strong><\/a>, titled Home: A Glossary for a Communal Sense of Place and under the artistic direction of\u00a0Elvira Dyangani Ose<\/strong><\/a>, will run from\u00a023 Oct in Al\u00a0Ain\u00a0<\/strong>and15 Nov in Abu Dhabi<\/strong>, both until 15\u00a0Feb\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n And coincidentally NOMAD Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/a> will be back with its collectable\/arty design vibe at Terminal 1, Old Abu Dhabi Airport, 18\u201322 Nov<\/strong> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get in<\/mark><\/strong> On 4 July<\/strong>, ME by Meli\u00e1 Dubai and Fujifilm Middle East are inviting creatives into the world’s only Zaha Hadid designed hotel for an exclusive architectural \u201cphotography experience\u201d (aka practical workshop) led by top snapper Beno Saradzic<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s a rare opportunity to photograph the architectural landmark\u2019s sculptural forms and dramatic perspectives from the inside; places are limited and will go quickly. Sign up here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Islamic opp<\/strong><\/mark> Nominations are now open for the 20th Al Burda Award<\/strong><\/a> for Islamic culture (categories: poetry, calligraphy, ornamentation) with the theme \u2018Family: Tranquillity and Compassion\u2019. Deadline 22 Aug<\/strong> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Film opp 1<\/mark><\/strong> The Fujifilm Short Film Festival<\/strong><\/a> is now open for entries till 15 Aug<\/strong>. Submit a short film (max 30 mins) in four award categories: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Student. There are category prizes (equipment + cash) plus Best Film and Audience Award. The Festival runs 12-13 Dec <\/strong>in Dubai; info here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Film opp 2<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Chop ’em Down Films, Vinyl Souq and Bull Funk Zoo are looking for \u201cvisual storytellers from around the world\u201d to contribute to a collaborative short film<\/strong><\/a> inspired by Bull Funk Zoo\u2019s track Power of Love<\/strong><\/a>. Register here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by 5 July <\/strong>for the full creative brief and project details …<\/p>\n\n\n\n EVs for MotF<\/mark><\/strong> The Museum of the Future<\/strong><\/a> has signed a strategic partnership with Kia<\/strong><\/a> reflecting what the local Kia boss called “a shared ambition to make the future tangible today”. Presumably money changed hands; the carmaker gets a dedicated space<\/strong> within the Museum for its EVs, \u201doffering visitors an opportunity to experience Kia\u2019s vision for next-generation mobility firsthand\u201d; it will also host workshops and public talks <\/strong>at the museum, and there\u2019ll be Kia-branded EV chargers<\/strong> outside …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job opp 1<\/mark><\/strong> Ishara Art Foundation<\/strong><\/a> is seeking an Exhibitions, Programmes & Special Projects Lead<\/strong><\/a> (yup, that\u2019s one job) for its Alserkal Avenue location. The successful candidate \u201cwill plan, coordinate, execute and monitor all exhibition and programme related operations, along with collaborative initiatives of Ishara\u201d. Send your resum\u00e9 to operations@ishara.org<\/strong><\/a> before 20 July<\/strong> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job opp 2<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Rizq Art Initiative<\/strong><\/a> in Abu Dhabi is looking for a Gallery\/Curatorial Assistant<\/strong><\/a>. Requirements include passion, organisational skills, multitasking; previous experience a plus. No deadline indicated; email applications to info@rizqart.com\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you were sleeping<\/mark><\/strong> The UAE’s\u00a0Minister of Foreign Trade<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0has confirmed there\u2019s a \u201chighly ambitious plan\u201d<\/strong><\/a> under way to reduce the country\u2019s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz to \u201czero\u201d \u2013 major expansion of the Gulf of Oman ports<\/strong> (Dibba, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and at least one new one) with new pipelines and transit routes<\/strong> across the desert from Abu Dhabi. The\u00a0Etihad Rail<\/strong><\/a> link to Fujairah should help too …<\/p>\n\n\n\n DJ for a day?<\/mark><\/strong> Drop in to the AlphaTheta Premium Dealer store <\/strong><\/a>at The B1 Mall<\/strong><\/a> in Al Barsha and try a complimentary beginner-friendly DJ workshop. Channel your inner Armin van Buuren on AlphaTheta’s top-notch professional DJ equipment \u2013 no experience required\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art Basel Qatar relocating<\/mark><\/strong> Art Basel Qatar<\/strong><\/a> is planning\u00a0to move wholesale to a purpose-built Herzog & de Meuron venue on Al Maha Island<\/strong><\/a>, a luxury \/ mixed-use district of Lusail city being developed north of Doha. Won\u2019t be anytime soon: breaking ground is expected in 2028. Meanwhile the next Art Basel Qatar is in the old place 28-30 Jan 2027<\/strong>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen to the Emirates<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Volume 2 of Vinyl Souk\u2019s Made in the Emirates<\/a><\/strong> various-artists compilation is now out, and it\u2019s a banger. Vol 1<\/strong><\/a> was a pick-n-mix selection with a variety of names (like Boom.Diwan, Bull Funk Zoo, Noush Like Sploosh, WYWY) that would make a great taste-of-Dubai gig. Vol 2<\/strong><\/a>, compiled by Shadi Megallaa, focuses on the underground electronic scene: eight original tracks across two LPs with deep house, breaks, techno, and experimental club sounds \u2013 \u201ca snapshot of a thriving scene shaped by artists working on their own terms\u201d. Standouts for us: Megadon Betamax<\/strong>, Maha Monastery, and Tacit<\/strong>; fine artwork too by Rami Afifi<\/strong>. We were hoping it\u2019d be on Bandcamp (like Vol 1) but no; you can at least sample it here<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI draining your phone?<\/mark><\/strong> Hard-won practical-experience advice: open Settings, Tap Battery, look for apps are\u00a0using\u00a0the battery<\/strong>. Could be AI assistants, photo apps, productivity tools,\u00a0other AI-powered services like Apple Intelligence or Android\u00a0Voice Activation. And usually it’s a combination<\/strong>. Also\u00a0review Battery Optimization, App Battery Usage, or Background Restrictions for power-hungry apps that sneakily run\u00a0in the background<\/strong>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n One for the kids<\/mark><\/strong> Magic Phil<\/strong><\/a> is\u00a0doing a free show at 5pm on Saturday (27 June) at the Fun City<\/strong><\/a> play area in\u00a0Nad Al Sheba Mall, with a meet-n-greet to follow. Book\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now read on<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Two good book club subjects on Sunday: Bookends does\u00a0The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Book Cellar Dubai has the somewhat inscrutable Bartleby, the Scrivener<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Free summer films in Sharjah<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0This week\u2019s Sharjah Art Foundation news is the arrival of Sunday Cinema Club<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 a free film\u00a0followed by a talk or a workshop, 3pm each Sunday from 5 July to 30 Aug at the Photography Gallery<\/strong><\/a> in Al Manakh. Films are child-friendly animations<\/strong> (5\u201319 July), pioneering SF<\/strong> (26 July\u20139 Aug), or \u201csignificant works of Arab cinema\u201d<\/strong> (16-20 Aug). Opener is\u00a0Tomm Moore’s Song of the Sea <\/strong><\/a>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last chances …<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Closing RSN: three good shows \u2013 Moza Al Falasi<\/strong><\/a> at Tashkeel Alserkal Avenue (ends tomorrow),\u00a0 Jumana Emil Abboud<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0at the Jameel (Sunday), Zawyeh’s group show Elusive Territories<\/strong><\/a> (Tuesday)\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n … Tonight’s the night<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0There’s just time to get along to MTD’s\u00a0A Night at the Musicals<\/strong><\/a> at\u00a0Meyana Theatre, Jumeirah Beach Hotel; Comedy Kix’s Funny People at Hive<\/strong><\/a> in JVC; and especially the UAENO’s Season One Finale Concert <\/a><\/strong>at NYUAD Arts Center\u00a0 …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful app of the week<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Google\u2019s Pinpoint<\/strong><\/a> is a really powerful free tool for making sense of giant heaps of digital stuff. Previously\u00a0it was restricted to journalists and academics; now it\u2019s free to all (though you only get 1Gb of storage \u2013 but that\u2019s per account, so set up more than one account if you need to). It\u2019s great for making stuff searchable \u00a0\u2013 handwritten text, scans, PDFs, transcribed audio and video \u2013 and it’s surprisingly easy to use. Be warned though: Google can scrape your data for training its AI models, so don\u2019t use it for anything really personal or sensitive. Find it here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Guess the year<\/strong><\/a> from the news headlines \u2013 they seem to be from North American publications only, which is a shame. You get five each day, with up to 100 points available per guess (so 500 is perfect, reportedly. I wouldn\u2019t know).\u00a0Try it here<\/a>\u00a0…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Your favourite colour is blue<\/strong> (probably). It’s been the most preferred colour ever since\u00a0surveys started in the 1800s; a 2015 YouGov study of 10 countries across four continents recorded blue scoring 8 to 18 percentage points higher than the second-place colour in all of them …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark> <\/a><\/strong>Lola Young : From Down Here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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