The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development (MCKD) has launched a programme to support freelancers and SMEs in the creative industry, helping out those that have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
Freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the cultural and creative industries can apply for the grant on the MCKD's website beginning on Sunday, May 17. Applications will be open for seven days.
We send a strong message of respect and solidarity with intellectuals and creatives in the country
The grant is open to freelancers and SMEs in the UAE. Emiratis and residents can apply. Individuals can receive between Dh15,000 to 50,000 in aid.
Applicants could range from small visual arts companies to freelance photographers and videographers. More specifically, those who are eligible for the fund include individuals and entities working in the following fields: natural and cultural heritage, performing arts, visual arts, audiovisual and interactive media, literature, press and design. The full list of eligible professions can be found on the MCKD’s website.
The requests will be reviewed by a committee that will consider factors such as the amount of lost work or projects, the financial impact of Covid-19 on the individual or entity and the amount of content and work they produced in 2019. Priority will be given to those most affected by the crisis.
The National Creative Relief Programme is the first programme in the region developed specifically for creative industries during Covid-19.
The ministry is also collaborating with the CSR UAE Fund, a federal authority for Corporate Social Responsibility in the UAE, and will accept contributions to the fund from individuals, patrons and companies. This extra money will then be directed to applicants.
“Creatives have always had a significant impact on our lives, they make positive change in society through their works,” said the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Noura Al Kaabi of the importance of the artistic industries.
Al Kaabi said the ministry is also developing a set of new policies that will "encourage creative entrepreneurship" and the "durability and sustainability of the creative sector". She expressed similar sentiments during a Cultural Majlis discussion with Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi in early April. Details on the policies have yet to be announced.
In April, the minister also met with the Creative Industries Council to formulate responses to this situation. The council consists of leading figures from the UAE's culture and creative industries, as well as arts and heritage institutions.
The grant programme is the outcome of a national survey developed by MCKD alongside the Creative Industries Council in mid April, which called for individuals and institutions in the arts and culture industry to share feedback on their economic and operational challenges.
More than 1,400 entities took part in the survey, and 90 per cent of the participants said that the crisis posed a threat to their livelihoods.
Respondents indicated that their biggest challenges included fixed costs, such as rent payments for offices and workshops, salaries to employees, loan payments and dues to contractors and suppliers.
“Creatives are an integral part of our society, offering cultural and creative content to the community,” said Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed, Chair of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. “The UAE’s support to creatives represents a shared societal responsibility and a humanitarian necessity.
“In doing so, we send a strong message of respect and solidarity with intellectuals and creatives in the country.”
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
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Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
