This month marks a year since the coronavirus pandemic initiated a series of global shutdowns across art organisations. The immediate effect of the pandemic was a swift shift to digital programming: exhibitions became walk-throughs; fair booths became virtual viewing rooms; and Q&As became video chats. The amount of material made available online, as well as its uptake among the public, was overwhelming, fuelled perhaps by adrenalin and sublimated panic.
"The digital sphere has always had this sort of secondary position, and people didn't take it as seriously as they should
That flurry of initial activity has subsided, but the “new normal” is still emerging. What have been the effects of a year’s worth of online programming on art organisations, artists and audiences – and specifically for the Arab world?
One major change is an appreciation of the digital sphere as a separate strand of curatorial thinking – an investment that has long been overdue. Dedicated digital programming has been patchy across art organisations, driven mostly by individual curators or at venues that have deliberately looked at new media.
Few museums have made formal departments, but that will likely shift. "The digital sphere has always had this sort of secondary position, and people didn't take it as seriously as they should," says Krist Gruijthuijsen, director of the KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin. "It came with very cliched mediation formats. But in the last year, we have sped up the respect that the digital sphere deserves."
KW will launch a digital department at the end of April, which will be overseen by curatorial hire Nadim Samman. The website will adapt many exhibition procedures from the physical realm, such as shows being time-limited and part of tours.
“Exhibitions will only exist at a certain moment on our website, and then they will travel to another institution’s website,” Gruijthuijsen explains.
“So there’s an interest in trying to understand temporalities when it comes down to digital representations. I believe in accessibility, but also in the beauty of missing out.”
In Dubai, the Jameel Arts Centre is likewise expanding their digital platform. "We're building up resources online [audio, video, written] so that we leave a legacy of research and context," says Antonia Carver, head of Art Jameel. "This is reflected in our current approach to the school's programme – we don't give virtual tours of IRL exhibitions, but we showcase particular in-depth works of art, and debate them through online classes," she says.
When restrictions fully lift, UAE schools visits will return in person, but the museum will continue to offer online classes to schools and universities farther afield.
Jameel is also commissioning more digital work. Last April, the organisation shifted tack quickly in response to the pandemic and changed its 2020 commissioning call, a competition based each year on a different medium, from painting to digital technologies.
Its current online exhibition is the result of this commission: Nadim Choufi's sci-fi video The Sky Oscillates Between Eternity and its Immediate Consequences (2020), which the artist in Beirut worked on under the difficult conditions after the port blast.
Expanded audiences and new archives
As online programming expanded, so did its audience. Zoom panels and lectures became the norm, and an art public at home became familiar with testing out new areas of interest.
This has had a knock-on effect in the Arab world – where many organisations already had a jump-start with regard to digital programming because of visa and travel restrictions. The Palestinian Museum, in Birzeit near Ramallah, has always made digital outreach integral, but is now giving it broader attention.
"From the beginning, we have been a transnational museum," says Adila Laidi-Hanieh, the museum's director general. Substantial portions of its core audience cannot visit the museum, either because they are the Palestinian diaspora or are unable to travel from places such as Gaza within the occupied territory. The museum has invested significantly in Palestinian Journeys and Palestinian Archive: the first an interactive platform on Palestinian history, and the second a collection of photographs, film and audio material from Palestinian families. Both live as permanent curatorial projects online.
The museum expanded its audience during the pandemic with a number of popular online campaigns, Q&As and exhibition tours.
“A lot of people from outside Palestine now follow us,” says Laidi-Hanieh. “We have lots of participants from Tunisia, from Bahrain. A winner from one of our Facebook contests was from Aleppo. We have greatly increased the numbers of people who see us virtually.”
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi's Online Cultural Majlis, the virtual version of the in-person talks that the Sharjah collector and art historian has been running since 2019, also shows that niche disciplines are benefiting from the lower barriers to online entry.
About 300 attendees logged in for a discussion with Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, and about 250 for Palestinian painter Samia Halaby – an uncommon level of popularity for talks in the lamentably small field of Arab art. But for Al Qassemi, the contribution of Online Cultural Majlis is less in its viewership figures than in the archive it forms.
“Online programming has been amazing for Arab culture,” he says. “The fact is that we lack documentation. And what the Arab world is doing with the pandemic is leapfrogging decades of missed opportunities to document and to interview artists.
“We didn’t have many opportunities to document because it requires costs: you had to travel, take a camera, get a visa, buy a recording device. But with Zoom, you’re leapfrogging all this bureaucracy, you’re leapfrogging the cost, you’re leapfrogging the logistical challenges.”
Some of the artists interviewed on the Online Cultural Majlis have made few public appearances, such as Jordanian artist Hind Nasser and Palestinian painter Ufemia Rizk, who were both pupils of Turkish artist Fahrelnissa Zeid. And, because many of the artists who were important to Arab modernism are now older, the need to archive their voices is becoming more urgent.
Reimagining online viewership
The attendance figures for Online Cultural Majlis have dropped since the early days of Covid-19. This is partly because the pandemic has had its own temporality.
“The speed at which we, as a global arts community, went from digital-giddy to Zoom fatigue was so compressed,” says Carver. “It barely outlasted the initial [stay-at-home] period of three months.”
One of the most enduring effects of online programming might well be a recalibration of the idea of virtual public. This is something another popular talks platform, Afikra (from the Arabic slang word for "on second thought"), has actively tackled.
The platform has been running for seven years, first out of founder Mikey Muhanna's Brooklyn flat, and then in a number of satellite locations including Dubai, Washington, London and Beirut, where Muhanna now lives.
The pandemic accelerated plans he already had in place to go digital, and last March, Muhanna began hosting weekly lectures online. The agenda evolved to include two additional weekly conversations, with personalities such as the Syrian-American poet and rapper Omar Offendum and French-Tunisian artist eL Seed, and then expanded further with shorter, 15-minute presentations. In August, Muhanna – who has worked for Teach for America and Morgan Stanley – took another step back and publicly asked the Afikra community to speak to him one on one.
“It sounds maniacal, but I had about 200 phone calls over the course of three weeks,” he says. “I was completely exhausted. But if you say you’re going to build a community organisation, you need to meet the community.”
Community, in fact, was the main takeaway from his discussions: Afikra had become a network where people saw familiar faces, struck up side conversations, and traded perspectives. Muhanna is now launching a website redesign that will encourage this kind of interaction, allowing members to build profiles and contact others on the site.
“There are two parts to our mission,” he explains. “The first is to cultivate curiosity. The second is to build community. There’s no shortage of lectures available. I don’t even have to get out of my chair – I can just go on YouTube, and find hundreds of lectures about art history and culture. What’s missing is an invitation to contribute to the discourse, and become a producer of knowledge and part of a community of folk who are saying: ‘Yes, I want to listen to you.’”
Once people return to events and exhibitions in person, the challenge for art organisations will be how to retain the community they've attracted – and how to pay for it. Yet, the financial fallout of the pandemic is yet to fully hit many museums, and digital programming, with its lower overheads, might well remain central for sometime yet.
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Monday's results
- UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
- Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
- Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
HAJJAN
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
