A new regional collective is encouraging creatives – from media professionals and painters to photographers, researchers and animators – to join forces.
Gulf Creative Collective is a virtual network that promotes collaboration and professional growth, at a time when creative industries around the world are undergoing extreme disruption.
When the global economy stalls, creatives are the first ones to be hit
"Finding stability and creative freedom in the age of social distancing is a challenge," says Bhoomika Ghaghada, 28, co-founder of Gulf Creative Collective. "When the global economy stalls, creatives are the first ones to be hit. Marketing budgets are slashed, art and research funding pools shrink, and freelance writers and designers in the gig economy suffer.
"For creatives who are employed, work is slower and the terms of engagement are different. Opportunity for creativity at work declines after a crisis and it becomes a little less satisfying. Gulf Creative Collective aims to provide this virtual connection and free creative space," she says.
The collective will function via a Slack group, newsletter and virtual workshops. The Slack group is intended to encourage relationship building, where members can introduce themselves, share their work, find potential employment and projects, and initiate conversations about collaborations. The newsletter will provide curated job listings, resources for skill-building and networking opportunities.
The virtual workshops will focus on developing essential skills for evolving industries, as well as creative outlets that fall outside work – slated workshops include painting with an art therapist, how to have meaningful conversations and a guided meditation for creatives. All creatives are welcome to join the network, free of charge.
“In the UAE, creative projects have always been more tethered to commerce than elsewhere in the world. Those working in creative industries are experiencing a lot of disruption: uncertainty of future projects, different rules of engagement with audiences, and shifting media consumption habits and client measurements," says Ghaghada.
“The UAE is unique because creatives exist in pockets. There is a lot of intra-organisational support, but there is little inter-organisation and cross-industry connection. This is reflected in a lack of data-sharing across industries.”
Born in the UAE, Ghaghada is the co-founder and lead copywriter of Street, a Sharjah advertising agency that has worked with clients such as Victoria’s Secret, Unilever, Bandai Namco and Flash Entertainment.
The entrepreneur splits her time between the UAE and New York, where she has partnered with New York University, UN Women and the New York City Mayor's Office.
Projects she has worked with include "Not Yet", a web community project by and for women of colour, "She's The First", a non-profit that sponsors female secondary education in the Global South, and "0 to 1 Data", an initiative advocating data-driven social change and sustainability.
“Virtual communities are crucial to our survival and health at the moment,” says Ghaghada. “While we slow down and reassess, we have an opportunity to form alliances that can help our fellow creatives and industries adapt and survive.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
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
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
