<rss  xmlns:content="https://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="https://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" >
<channel> 
        <atom:link href="https://www.gulftoday.ae/rssFeed/56" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    <lastBuildDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:58:35 +0400</lastBuildDate>
    <title><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae]]></title>
    <description><![CDATA[ RSS Feed : Culture  ]]></description>
    <link>https://www.gulftoday.ae</link>
     <image>
        <url>https://www.gulftoday.ae/theme_gulftoday/images/Gulf_Today_logo-NNN.svg</url>
        <title>gulftoday</title>
        <link>https://www.gulftoday.ae/</link>
    </image>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/singer-dua-lipa-and-actor-callum-turner-are-married]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Pop star Dua Lipa and "Fantastic Beasts" actor Callum  Turner married in London on Sunday, according to media reports, which  said the low-key nuptials may be followed by a three-day party in  Sicily. They tied the knot Sunday at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London.The Sun and Daily Mail tabloids showed photos of the couple  leaving Old Marylebone Town Hall following a civil ceremony with just a  handful of family and friends.Dua Lipa, 30, wore a white hat and  dress designed by the Schiaparelli studio for the wedding, reports said.Turner, 36, donned a dark blue suit. The Sun said that they now  plan a "sumptuous" three-day party in Sicily at the end of next week.  Representatives of the couple, who have been together since January  2024, did not answer AFP's request to comment.Dua Lipa, the  daughter of Kosovo migrants who has become one of Britain's top singers  since her "Be The One" single in 2016, announced in an interview with  British Vogue last year that she and Turner planned to marry.Turner made an international name for himself appearing in the  "Fantastic Beasts" films. He is considered a possible candidate to  become the next James Bond.The pair first sparked relationship rumors at the beginning of 2024.Lipa confirmed her engagement to Turner last year after months of speculation in a cover story for British Vogue’s July issue. Fans had theorized the ring Lipa began sporting in photos in December 2024 signaled an engagement.The London-born, British Albanian singer is celebrated for revitalizing a disco-pop sound in the musical mainstream, beginning with the release of her 2017 self-titled album and carrying through 2020’s "Future Nostalgia” and 2024’s "Radical Optimism.”"Dance music has such a long history of creating such a safe space. And I just want to embody that,” she told the AP.She has won three Grammys and boasts five top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.Turner is known for his roles in the "Fantastic Beasts” movies as well as the George Clooney-directed "The Boys in the Boat” and World War ll drama series "Masters of the Air” on Apple TV+.He recently starred opposite Elizabeth Olsen in "Eternity,” a clever romantic comedy about the afterlife.Agencies ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083757.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083757.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/singer-dua-lipa-and-actor-callum-turner-are-married]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:30:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sheikha Bodour witnesses signing of cooperation agreement between ERRA and KOPIPOL in Warsaw]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/sheikha-bodour-witnesses-signing-of-cooperation-agreement-between-erra-and-kopipol-in-warsaw]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[In the presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Honorary President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), and in support of her efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection frameworks and advance the publishing and creative industries, ERRA signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the Polish Reprographic Rights Organisation (KOPIPOL), specialising in the collective management of authors’ rights for scientific and technical works.The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Association’s participation in the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026 as part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme.The signing of the agreement reflects Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s commitment to supporting cultural and knowledge-based initiatives that facilitate the development of the publishing industry and the strengthening of international cooperation in reprographic rights protection as well as collective rights management. It also reinforces the position of the United Arab Emirates as a leading regional and global model in the protection of intellectual property rights.The agreement aligns with the Association’s commitment to strategic partnerships and the sustainable growth of cultural and creative industries locally and internationally, playing an active role in shaping the future of the sector.The cooperation agreement aims to enhance the exchange of expertise and knowledge while developing joint working mechanisms in reprographic rights protection and collective rights management, establishing a more sustainable creative environment that supports creators and safeguards their rights.As part of the integrated Emirati cultural programme that took place during this year’s fair, the Association showcased the UAE’s experience in reprographic rights management, reinforcing its efforts to protect intellectual and creative works. The Association also aims to raise awareness, highlighting the importance of respecting copyright amid the rapid transformations taking place across the publishing sector and creative industries worldwide.ERRA organised a specialised panel discussion titled "Collective Management Organisations and Their Role in Protecting Creativity - Between the UAE and Poland”, in cooperation with KOPIPOL and with the participation of a distinguished group of experts and specialists in the field of copyright as well as collective rights management.The session explored the pivotal role of collective management organisations in regulating the use of creative works within educational and cultural institutions, as well as licensing mechanisms that ensure the protection of authors’ and creators’ moral and economic rights. It also reviewed the key challenges imposed by the digital age on reprographic rights systems and the importance of international cooperation in developing intellectual property protection frameworks, while exemplifying the Emirati-Polish model.In this context, Mohamed Bin Dakhin Al Matrooshi, President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Association, said, "Our participation in the Warsaw International Book Fair represents an important strategic milestone in strengthening international dialogue on the future of reprographic rights and collective rights management, particularly in light of the rapid changes taking place across the cultural and creative industries worldwide."He added, "At the Emirates Reprographic Rights Association, we are fostering a culture of respect for reprographic rights and building an integrated framework that supports the protection of creative works, safeguarding the moral and economic rights of creators. We are also committed to strengthening cooperation with international institutions and organisations to exchange expertise and develop innovative mechanisms in this field, establishing a more equitable and sustainable creative environment while enhancing the sector’s readiness for the future."WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083698.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083698.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/sheikha-bodour-witnesses-signing-of-cooperation-agreement-between-erra-and-kopipol-in-warsaw]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:37:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Hollywood honours Marilyn Monroe, 100 years after her birth]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/hollywood-honors-marilyn-monroe-100-years-after-her-birth]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Marilyn Monroe's hometown of Hollywood kicks off Monday a series of special events marking the 100th anniversary of the movie icon's birth.At the historic Chinese Theatre, where Monroe's handprints are immortalised alongside "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) co-star Jane Russell, fans plan to sing "Happy Birthday" -- echoing her famed sultry serenade to president John F. Kennedy.One hundred roses and a cake will be placed at the site, a symbol of Hollywood's golden age and a popular tourist hotspot.Tributes to Tinseltown's legendary daughter began on Sunday, with the Academy Museum opening "Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon," an exhibit celebrating her film career and life cut short.After shooting to superstardom in the 1950s, the actress and model died of an overdose at her Brentwood home in August 1962, aged 36.The Academy Museum will host special screenings of her prolific filmography throughout the month, including "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950), "Niagara" (1953), "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), "Some Like It Hot" (1959), and "The Misfits" (1961).The exhibit, which runs until February 2027, includes hundreds of original pieces, some rarely on display -- such as Monroe's famed pink dress worn during her iconic performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."Later in the week, on June 4, Julien's Auctions will put nearly 200 pieces of Monroe memorabilia under the hammer as part of its special "100 Years of Marilyn" sale.The items include unpublished photographs, a script with notes from her final production, the unfinished short film "Something's Got to Give," and personal items such as handwritten recipes and her Elizabeth Arden lipstick.Image makerBorn in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, Monroe had an unstable childhood spent between orphanages and foster homes. She married for the first time at age 16.She had her first brush with show business in 1944, while working in a factory, when a photographer arrived to capture photos of women working on production lines during the Second World War.Launching into the world of modeling soon after, she divorced her husband and made a history-defining decision: dyeing her brown hair platinum blonde.She landed her first contract with Fox, and by the age of 30 had established herself as a global star.Behind the scenes, Monroe founded her own production company, attended the prestigious Actors Studio in New York, and even defied the studios.In the 1950s, while under contract with 20th Century Fox, she refused to act in the adaptation of the musical "The Girl in Pink Tights," deeming the script mediocre and her salary -- three times less than that of co-star Frank Sinatra -- unfair.More than half a century before the #MeToo movement shook the global entertainment industry, Monroe denounced the Hollywood "wolves" preying on female talent.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083619.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083619.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/hollywood-honors-marilyn-monroe-100-years-after-her-birth]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:58:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[AI helped a musician with Parkinson’s finish his new album]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/ai-helped-a-musician-with-parkinsons-finish-his-new-album]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Samuel Smith spent years writing songs with a guitar in his hands. Now, the London-based singer-songwriter is using artificial intelligence tools to help him continue making Americana music after Parkinson’s disease largely took away his ability to play guitar. Smith, who was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder in 2020, recently released his second album, “The Art of Letting Go.”For one of the eight tracks, an instrumental piece titled “Horizon,” he relied on platforms that use AI to generate music to create demo arrangements that would convey his vision to the musicians who recorded the song. The demos he created by humming rough melodies into his phone and uploading the recordings into song generators like Suno and Udio weren’t for mixing into the final studio version of “Horizon,” Smith stressed. But tremors, stiffness and fatigue, which are common symptoms of Parkinson’s, caused his guitar skills to deteriorate during the more than a year he worked on the album, he said.“So then I’m faced with a question,” Smith, 49, said. “’Don’t play, don’t be creative, or find a way out, find a route.’ And for me, this was the route.” Generative AI has divided the music industry, whose artists and record labels have complained of their copyrighted work being used to train the models behind AI-powered music tools. Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Records sued Suno and Udio in June 2024, although Universal later reached a settlement and partnership deal with Udio and Warner did the same with Suno.Less discussed is what those platforms can do when employed by a serious musician like Smith, whose disease affects the tools central to his songwriting and identity as a guitarist: his hands. He released his debut album, “In the Springtime,” in 2023, saying he wanted to give his two sons a way to remember when he could perform and record music himself.“I’d always written, I’d also played, I always sung,” he said. “And immediately it became clear to me that I was in trouble, that my music was going to be seriously compromised.” AI music generators use systems trained on large datasets of recorded music and audio. The platforms analyze patterns in melody, harmony, and rhythm before generating new audio based on prompts or uploaded recordings. Users don’t need musical talent to end up with a serviceable song, or even a popular one.Smith said producing convincing demos from the synthetic tracks the apps generated often required “50, 100, 150 attempts” and extensive editing “to get something that sounds close to my music.” After humming a song into his phone and uploading the recording, he gives prompts describing instrumentation, mood and style. .“AI is not replacing anything for me,” he said. “It’s unlocking, it’s enabling. It’s allowing me to keep writing. I upload my lyrics; AI doesn’t create my lyrics. I upload my music; AI does not create my music.” He added: “It then brings it to life in a way that I can play to session players and say, ‘Here, that’s what I’m thinking, that is what I’m hearing.’”The album was produced by Grammy-winning pianist and producer Matt Rollings, who assembled a group of established roots and bluegrass musicians for the project. They included dobro player and 16-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas, Grammy-winning banjo player Alison Brown, fiddler Stuart Duncan, guitarist Bryan Sutton, bassist Viktor Krauss and singers Jonatha Brooke and Glen Phillips.For Smith, the experience of singing in a Nashville studio alongside musicians he had admired for decades was “an extraordinary moment.” Grammy-nominated guitarist Julian Lage, known for his jazz and acoustic recordings with Blue Note Records, performed on the album’s title track and on “Horizon.” The latter recording became a bittersweet high point in Smith’s career; despite the progression of his disease, he managed to play a guitar duet with his friend.Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083598.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083598.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/ai-helped-a-musician-with-parkinsons-finish-his-new-album]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:28:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Janhvi Kapoor reveals why she won’t attempt Malayalam again anytime soon]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/janhvi-kapoor-reveals-why-she-wont-attempt-malayalam-again-anytime-soon]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[After making her Telugu debut with “Devara: Part 1” in 2024 and trying her hand at Malayalam for the 2025 film “Param Sundari,” actress Janhvi Kapoor, who is predominantly a Bollywood star, has confessed that Malayalam was no easy feat. Speaking about how she can now call herself a multilingual actress, considering she knows many languages, and if there are any other languages she wants to learn, Janhvi told IANS: “All of it, really.”The actress, who is gearing up for the release of her Telugu film “Peddi,” revealed that Malayalam was difficult for her, so she does not see herself attempting it again anytime soon. “But I don’t think I should attempt Malayalam again because it’s too difficult for me. It’s such a beautiful, sweet language. But I think I’ve been phonetically quite familiar with Tamil and Telugu,” Janhvi said.She’s enjoying her tryst with Telugu films and wants to explore Tamil movies too. “So, I’m really enjoying working in Telugu films. I’d love to explore Tamil films as well,” Janhvi concluded. Peddi is directed by Buchi Babu Sana. The film also stars Boman Irani, Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu. The film is finally releasing on June 4.In the Bollywood front, Janhvi was last seen in “Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari” by Shashank Khaitan. It also stars Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul and Akshay Oberoi. The film followed Sunny and Tulsi, who are heartbroken after their partners, Ananya and Vikram, abandon them to marry each other. Sunny and Tulsi then team up to crash the wedding of their former lovers.Janhvi made her acting debut in 2018 with the romantic drama “Dhadak.” She was then seen in films such as “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl,” “Mili” and “Devara: Part 1.” She has since earned praise for her role as a woman of a lower caste navigating social discrimination in HomeboundMeanwhile, since making her debut with “Dhadak” in 2018, Janhvi Kapoor has been trying to prove her mettle through a diverse range of projects. Asked Janhvi, who will be seen starring alongside Ram Charan in “Peddi”, how much is too much for an actor to invest in a role. Pat came the reply from the doe-eyed beauty, who made her Telugu debut in Jr. NTR’s 2024’s action drama Devara: Part 1, to IANS: “Oh, I think nothing is too much.”The 29-year-old actress, who has worked on stunt-heavy sequences head-on in some of her films, added: “I think for your art, if you feel convinced and if you feel strongly about the story and your role and the message, then give your life for it.”Her next is “Peddi”, a sports action drama film by Buchi Babu Sana. The film features Ram as a “crossover athlete” who transitions between the three difficult sports including cricket, wrestling and sprinting. Asked if she is a sports enthusiast, Janhvi, who is the daughter of the late superstar Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, said: “I actually, I wasn’t very athletically inclined.”Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083596.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083596.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/janhvi-kapoor-reveals-why-she-wont-attempt-malayalam-again-anytime-soon]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:26:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Ukrainians seek cultural escape from war’s brutality, find comfort at art fair]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/ukrainians-seek-cultural-escape-from-wars-brutality-find-comfort-at-art-fair]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[For years, 36-year-old Ukrainian artist Olena Kharakhulakh had put her art on hold, choosing instead a steady job designing glass objects for a company. That changed when a Russian missile hit an apartment block 300 metres from her home in eastern Ukraine, killing 45 people. Choking back tears when recalling the attack, she said that was the moment she decided to go into art full-time.“I realised that there would never be a convenient moment and that you have to do what you want right now,” said Kharakhulakh, one of many Ukrainian artists for whom Russia’s invasion was a turning point. “To be reborn, we need to get rid of something — not literally, not physically, but we need to destroy or even kill something within ourselves,” Kharakhulakh told AFP from Kyiv’s Lavra art gallery.Her latest collages — part of the second edition of the Kyiv Art Fair — show classical statues with sliced faces, sharp blades and ominous smoke: a reflection of her own transformation.Another artist, Vlada Lobus, whose works were also displayed at the fair, was forced to leave Dnipro and seek refuge in Poland. A graduate in political economy, she turned to painting and then analogue photography to process the shock of war and displacement.In one self-portrait, she reassembles cyanotype photographs of herself in a disjointed order: an eye, hands, an elbow, the soft curves of a body. “There is a change of perception after a traumatic event, a deconstructing and reconstructing of ourselves,” she told AFP on the sidelines of the fair.Now in its fifth year, the war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes. Ukrainian authorities say at least 346 artists have been killed.But Russia’s full-scale invasion has not brought Ukraine’s art scene to a standstill, said Anna Avetova, director of Art Kyiv.Instead, it has placed Ukraine at the centre of international attention, helping artists and galleries become better known abroad, especially in the early years of the war. The invasion is no longer always an obvious theme in Ukrainian art, Avetova said.But it remains “a narrative, a common thread running through all projects, all artists, all new works”.On a back wall of the Lavra gallery hangs a collage by Iuliia Shulga from a series she describes as a “love letter” to Kyiv, her hometown. It shows the Hotel Salute, known for its distinctive Soviet-era architecture, rising out of a coral reef against a bright pink background, with an astronaut on its roof and a disco ball for a moon.The hotel, she said, reminds her of childhood walks with her father in the nearby park.Shulga works in human resources and has no formal artistic education.She started collaging a few months after Russia’s invasion began as a way to “glue” her broken world back together.Since then, her life has been split between Britain and Ukraine, art and human resources.“Collage is an honest medium for our reality. It reflects the fragmentation of life,” she said.“We are trying to rebuild ourselves from our broken pieces.”Her works, exhibited as far away as Japan, have become a way for Shulga to “communicate with the world”.For Irina Cheremisina, the priority is to show her art in her home country. In 2014, Moscow-backed separatist forces seized control of part of eastern Ukraine, including her native Donetsk.She left for Kyiv with her family, then left Ukraine for Spain in 2022 to keep her children safe. Raised on the idea that art is not a “respectable” career, she had worked in international trade, with her creative impulses confined to the category of “hobby”.“Everything changed in 2022. I lost my father, my job, my house because of the war,” she told the media.Her house in Ukraine, she said, was destroyed and burned down. “Only photography helped me survive the loss and grief.” Now 45, she has devoted herself to art, with several of her works selected for Art Kyiv.She adds paper cut-outs, collage and embroidery to her self-portraits.“People can see textures, layers, they can feel the presence of my hands,” she said. Her works have been exhibited in different parts of the world, including the United States, France and Spain, but her “number one” place is her home country. “It’s important for me to leave a part of myself in Ukraine,” she said. “It’s my way of telling people to survive.”Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083592.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/06/01/1083592.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/06/01/ukrainians-seek-cultural-escape-from-wars-brutality-find-comfort-at-art-fair]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:19:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Singer Alicia Keys brings ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ to Los Angeles]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/singer-alicia-keys-brings-hells-kitchen-to-los-angeles]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Bringing a piece of New York to Los Angeles doesn’t intimidate Alicia Keys. When she created “Hell’s Kitchen,” the jukebox musical loosely based on her early life in Manhattan, Keys drew energy from her deep belief in the project. The show opened on Broadway in 2024 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including best musical. It will make its L.A. debut at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on Wednesday, in a step that Keys welcomes as a natural progression marking its success.“We spent 13 years developing this piece,” Keys said. “I believe in this deeply. I stand behind it. I stand for it.”The LA stop is almost halfway through the musical’s 45-city North American tour. With a book by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Michael Greif, the show features hits from Keys’ career, along with additional music and lyrics written by Keys and various collaborators for the show. Legendary tennis player and entrepreneur Serena Williams also joined the tour as a producer. Keys called it thrilling to bring another powerful woman onto the team.“She saw the show early, and she was just totally taken. I think she said something like, ‘Alicia, you made this young thug cry,’” Keys recounted. “She was so connected to it and felt really, really engaged with it. Obviously, she’s such an incredible businesswoman and visionary. It just felt right.”Inspired by Keys’ own childhood growing up in the midtown neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, the musical follows 17-year-old Ali searching for freedom, love and expression in 1990s New York City. Between arguments with her overprotective mother, Jersey, Ali finds solace learning to play the piano under the tutelage of Miss Liza Jane, an elderly tenant in the family’s subsidized artist housing. Ali becomes romantically entangled with an older boy named Knuck and falls in love with music, but female relationships form the core of the story. Keys hopes the dynamic between Ali, her mother and Miss Liza Jane helps the musical transcend any limitations inherent in its particular urban setting. “It was interesting to see that even though the story itself is based in New York City ... it is a piece that really becomes timeless, and it doesn’t matter where you live,” Keys said. “You can understand this story, and that’s why it translated so well into a tour because at the heart of it, it’s really a mother-daughter love story.”“Hell’s Kitchen” is still a distinctly New York musical. The characters discuss Rudy Giuliani’s controversial stop-and-frisk police policies, and Knuck is part of a sidewalk bucket drumming group. Keys wanted to ensure that the spirit of New York was “baked into the show.” “I just want [the audience] to feel the electricity. I want them to feel that New York energy,” Keys said. “You feel this grit. You feel this rawness. The show is set in the ‘90s, but ... it could be today, tomorrow, yesterday.”Like New York, LA is a city that Keys said is shaped by “creative spirits,” and she can’t wait to see how the show is received by a Hollywood crowd.“I’m so excited to bring this to the L.A. community for everyone, all these creative minds and spirits who are every day chasing their own dreams and breaking down walls and barriers and looking for ways to connect more deeply,” Keys said. “I’m excited for them to fall in love with it and have a piece of Broadway in their backyard.”That piece will arrive via a touring cast consisting of emerging artists and storied talent. Maya Drake makes her first tour debut as Ali; while Kennedy Caughell (Jersey) has three national tours under her belt, including “Wicked” and “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical.” Keys finds particular joy in watching new talent breathe life into her characters.“When you see the tour, you’re seeing young people that are living their dream, and they are so good. I mean, they dance next level. They are singing the whole roof off the entire place,” Keys said. “It’s magnificent to see the young artists that are blooming and blossoming.”The character of Ali is fundamentally shaped by the young artists who play her, Keys said. During the show’s original Broadway run, the actor Maleah Joi Moonwon a Tony for performance at the age of 21. Drake is 19, and even though this tour marks her first major production, Keys called Drake a “pure champion veteran.”Tribune News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083323.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083323.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/singer-alicia-keys-brings-hells-kitchen-to-los-angeles]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:41:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Jacqueline’s balcony becomes safe haven for birds during heat]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/jacquelines-balcony-becomes-safe-haven-for-birds-during-heat]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Amidst a heatwave in several parts of the country, actress and an ardent animal lover Jacqueline Fernandez shared a glimpse of birds finding comfort on her balcony. She said it makes her “happy every morning” to see them get some relief from the hot weather.Jacqueline shared a glimpse of her balcony on her Instagram stories section. The picture featured a bird drinking water, which is kept on her balcony.She wrote as the caption: “This makes me sooo happy every morning that they get some relief from the heat on my balcony and it’s their safe place.”Jacqueline then urged everyone to keep fresh water out for animals and birds. “Please keep out fresh water for animals and birds as it’s a heat wave at the moment,” she mentioned.Talking about Jacqueline, the actress was in Cannes earlier this month. She shared a string of pictures of herself posing at the iconic Art Deco hotel Martinez and hugging Hollywood star Eva Longoria at the Global Gift Foundation event at the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival.The actress, who made her debut in Hindi cinema in 2009 with Aladin, has worked in movies such as Murder 2, Race 2, Kick, Roy, Brothers, Dishoom,A Gentleman, Judwaa 2, Bhoot Police, Cirkus and Fateh.Her latest release is Housefull 5 by Tarun Mansukhani. The film features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Dino Morea, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma, Chunky Pandey, Nikitin Dheer and Johnny Lever.She will next be seen in “Welcome To The Jungle” starring Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Suniel Shetty.It also stars Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Mika Singh, Mukesh Tiwari, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Sayaji Shinde.After graduating Fernandez did a couple of television shows in Sri Lanka. She also attended the Berlitz school of languages, where she learned Spanish and improved her French and Arabic. Her mother Kim died on 7 April 2025 after suffering a stroke. According to Fernandez, she had aspired to become an actress at a young age and fantasized about becoming a Hollywood movie star. She received some training at the John School of Acting. Although she was a television reporter, she accepted offers in the modelling industry, which came as a result of her pageant success.In 2006, she was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant and represented Sri Lanka at the world Miss Universe 2006 pageant held in Los Angeles. In a 2015 interview, Fernandez described the modelling industry as “a good training ground” and said: “It is a medium that is about shedding your inhibitions, knowing your body, confidence”. In 2006, she appeared in a music video for the song “O Sathi” by music duo Bathiya and Santhush and young female singer Umaria Sinhawansa.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083321.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083321.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/jacquelines-balcony-becomes-safe-haven-for-birds-during-heat]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Multifaceted artist Soobika Fawad sees art as a narrator, connector and healer]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/multifaceted-artist-soobika-fawad-sees-art-as-a-narrator-connector-and-healer]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Soobika Fawad, artist and Founder, Soobika Fawad Artworks, is a multifaceted artist, with a passion for community empowerment and inclusive creativity. Soobika Fawad Artworks is a thriving art business specialising in resin and mixed media. “By education I am a pharmacist and I am an artist by choice,” says Soobika.“I have been a freelance professional artist since 2018 in the UAE. I am also an art educator and creative workshop facilitator, passionate about using art as a medium for expression, connection, and healing. My work spans across mixed media, resin art, textured art, calligraphy, and interactive creative experiences that encourage people to explore their individuality without fear of reaching perfection.”Her work is driven by a fascination with storytelling — each piece unfolding as a visual narrative that blends emotion, movement, and meaning. Drawing inspiration from diverse artistic traditions, Soobika incorporates elements of calligraphy, Islamic art and fluid art into her creations. The fluidity of resin allows her to explore depth, light and texture, resulting in artworks that are both meditative and visually dynamic. Resin art is a creative craft that involves mixing a clear liquid chemical called epoxy resin with a hardener. When combined, these two components undergo a chemical reaction that transforms the liquid into a solid, glossy, and durable finish similar to glass.Through her layered compositions, Soobika invites viewers to experience a dialogue between tradition and modern expression. As a contemporary artist, she envisions her art enriching homes and commercial spaces by bringing beauty, elegance, and meaning into environments. Her creations are designed to elevate interiors, while fostering a sense of inspiring calm and visual harmony. “I would like to represent my thoughts through the colours I pour on the canvas; I try to bring out the beauty of colours,” Soobika says. “The presence and beauty of what I see inspires me.” Each medium she embraces — whether resin, acrylic or marble art — carries her artistic signature.Beyond creating art, Soobika is deeply committed to sharing the joy of artistic expression through interactive workshops. In today’s fast-paced world, she aims to offer moments of pause, rejuvenation, and creative connection — inviting people to rediscover the therapeutic power of art-making. Over the years, she has conducted a variety of art workshops designed not only to teach artistic techniques, but also produce occasions that bring communities together through creativity. “I strongly believe that art should be accessible, therapeutic, and welcoming to everyone, regardless of age or skill level,” says Soobika.A part of her journey that is particularly close to her has been working with People of Determination, where she has witnessed firsthand the powerful role art can play in communication, confidence-building, emotional expression, and inclusion. These experiences deeply shaped her perspective as an educator and strengthened her commitment to creating safe and inspiring creative spaces for all. Recognised for pioneering resin art in the UAE, mentoring young artists and conducting innovative workshops, Soobika conducts art classes, both privately and through institutions. She has been honoured for her work in fostering inclusive artistic platforms for People of Determination. She is also active in community initiatives that uplift women and children through skill-building and expression.Her professional experience includes creating and selling custom resin and mixed media artworks to clients in the UAE and internationally. Conducting personal art classes for children, adults and families, she teaches art at Eryx Training Institute and AES, promoting artistic exploration and technical skill development. She has led over 50 creative workshops, including hosting the UAE’s first resin art workshop, held on a beach. She has showcased artwork at prestigious events, including Expo 2020 Dubai, World Art Dubai, and DIFC Nights.A mentor for student participants at the Annual Student Art Show Dubai, she guides young artists in their work, through concept development to execution. She also designs and leads inclusive art sessions, tailored for the needs of People of Determination. Her core competencies include working in resin and mixed media art; holding art workshop facilitation (online, in-person); art education (private and institutional); creative mentorship; community engagement and inclusion; custom art commissioning; event participation and exhibition curation; voluntering for social impact; public speaking and presentation; and pharmacology and scientific understanding.As a pharmacist at Hamdard University Karachi in an Internship/Training Role (Pakistan, pre-2011), she had acquired hands-on pharmaceutical training during academic studies. She also developed knowledge vis-à-vis patient care, dispensing practices, and medicinal formulation. Exhibitions and showcases include World Art Dubai (2022, exhibitor and featured artist); Expo 2020 Dubai (selected artist, recognised for artistic contribution); DIFC Nights (display of curated resin and mixed media collection); Student Art Show Dubai (mentorship and student coordination); and Pakistan Association Dubai events (presenting art in cultural showcases).Soobika is no stranger to awards and recognitions, of which here are a few: she has been awarded for her inspirational journey in art and empowerment and for blending art, inclusion, and community uplift; Certificate of Recognition – Expo 2020 Dubai; featured artist – World Art Dubai; and Mentorship Award — Student Art Show Dubai. Her efforts as a volunteer at Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) from 2019 – present, has seen her lead initiatives for women empowerment, inclusive creativity, and mental well-being. She has conducted inclusive art workshops for People of Determination to build self-expression and organised community events promoting unity through creativity and cultural exchange. Soobika actively contributes to PAD’s creative projects and skill development programmes for youth and women.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083317.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/31/1083317.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/31/multifaceted-artist-soobika-fawad-sees-art-as-a-narrator-connector-and-healer]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:33:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Myles Smith on turning therapy into a debut album]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/myles-smith-on-turning-therapy-into-a-debut-album]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[British singer-songwriter Myles Smith’s 2024 breakout single "Stargazing” was an instant viral hit that propelled him to sold-out concert venues in London, Toronto, and West Hollywood. Other hit singles have included "Nice to Meet You" and "Solo."Now, ahead of the June 19 release of his debut album, "My Mess, My Heart, My Life," the 27-year-old opens up to Reuters about how therapy fuelled his creativity, the gap between musical expression and a sustainable career, and what it means to grow in public without hardening.This conversation ‌has been edited for length and clarity.Your early success came through big, open-hearted songs that connected quickly with people online. With your debut album, what feels different?With this album, it was about scratching deeper beneath the surface. ​It was really fun to put ⁠out the music and ride the wave of just putting out something. But there comes a point where you have to stop and ask yourself, "What do I want ‌to say?” And I think that this album really is the start ‌of that journey.Because it was never about how many views or likes or shares (my music got); it was always just about expressing myself and putting parts of me out into the world. And I think that this album was just me stopping and taking stock and really delving into who I am as a person and all the things that made me me (and) encapsulating that in one body of work.You've spoken about revisiting five years' worth of therapy notes while writing this album. What ‌made you feel ready to turn that kind of private work into something public?I don’t think it was ever really a question of if I was ready. I’m still not ready. But I guess this is exposure therapy - throwing ⁠it out there and figuring it out afterwards.A lot of what I went through in therapy helped me understand myself. It’s only through talking to friends and family who’ve gone through their own hardships and haven’t been to therapy that you realise the beauty in it, and the benefit of it.There’s no better way to tell my story than through me learning about myself and going back over those notes. It was a cathartic experience, and a useful one.Several songs are about family, upbringing and what you describe as inheritance - not just what you're given, but what you're asked to carry. How did those ideas shape the album as a whole?When I came up with the album title, "My Mess, My Heart, My Life,” it was about what experiences, relationships and people have made me the person I am.Naturally, those relationships and the things I’d been through became the heart and soul of the album. There was no other way ​to write it than by looking inward and looking backward. That’s how it came together.In one of the songs, you link violence and volatility at home to indecision later in life. How conscious were ‌you of tracing that line between upbringing and adulthood?I wasn’t conscious of it until therapy. There were many times where I’d say I liked being alone, and my therapist would ask, "Why?” (and) then "Why?” again, until you get to the root cause.A lot of the songs were therapy in themselves. When you’re figuring out where a song goes, you have to look inward and answer those questions.Not every song is emotional labour - some are fun. But the ones that really matter to me came from ⁠that process.What’s the biggest misconception people have about what commercial success translates to day-to-day for an artist like you?People think commercial success equals fulfillment. It really doesn’t.You can have hits, be number one on (the) radio, play to millions of people - but the only things that make me happy are making music I’m proud of, connecting with people and playing live.No amount of success dictates that. It’s about keeping those things true.Tracks like "Grandma’s Place” suggest the idea of sanctuary, but also its limits. Why was it important to anchor that ​memory in texture rather than explanation, ‌and how has your understanding of safety evolved over time?I was always familiar with the feeling of safety, even if I didn’t fully understand what created it. As an adult, you’re given the language to understand it. Now ‌I can recognise what made me feel safe, rather than just feeling it.Putting that into the songs helped complete that thought process, and that song was an anomaly in my songwriting - it was about being in the moment. (My grandmother’s house) was a place I could go to break out of the arguing and fighting at home. It did feel safe, but it also wasn’t everything safety is meant to be. For me, it was enough. It taught me that safety doesn’t have to be complete or perfect - ‌sometimes it’s just enough to get ‌you through.You've said that this album isn't about resolution. What did you mean by that?The whole process was me processing ⁠things in real time. There were a lot of things that happened growing up - and a lot of missed opportunities. I never got to go to (my grandmother’s) funeral, and I never got to ‌say goodbye. Writing the song let that come out. It felt like I got to say goodbye in my own way.You’ve spoken about access to music education and how rare that’s become. What worries you most about who gets to make music now?I’m from a working-class area (in Luton, England) and didn’t grow up with a lot of money. My school was one of a small ⁠group that got funding for instruments, and it changed my life. It gave me another path.But the state of music now is scary. Grassroots venues are closing, funding is shrinking, and more young people don’t know where they fit ​if they’re not on a traditional career path.What happens to a generation of creators with no outlet? More needs to be done to support that.What do you hope people understand about you through this album?I’m actually happy. A lot of the album reflects a specific period of my life, but the last couple of years have been incredible. There is joy in it. I don’t want people to walk ⁠away thinking I’m miserable, because I’m not. I’m good.The perspectives expressed in Culture Current are the subject’s own and do not necessarily reflect ​the views of Reuters News.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083031.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083031.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/myles-smith-on-turning-therapy-into-a-debut-album]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 09:50:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Mrunal Thakur is ‘dubbing’ for something special, calls it ‘magic’]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/mrunal-thakur-is-dubbing-for-something-special-calls-it-magic]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur, who currently awaits the release of her upcoming comedy film “Hai Jawai Toh Ishq Hona Hai,” revealed that she is busy dubbing for “something special” and will be making an “announcement” very soon. Mrunal on her stories section shared a video of herself in a dubbing studio and is heard saying: “All right lets go!”She wrote: “Dubbing for something very special! Can’t wait for you all to witness the magic we have created... My heart is so overwhelmed and just so grateful to universe! Announcement soon.”“Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai” is all set to release on June 5. Directed by David Dhawan, the film is about a boy who had been rejected by many women. He was in a relationship with loneliness. But then he receives help from God, and suddenly, his mind fills with many different thoughts.For those who do not know, “Hai Jawani Toh Pyaar Hona Hai” is a hit song from David Dhawan’s film “Biwi No 1”, featuring Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and Sushmita Sen. The name of the forthcoming drama is believed to have been inspired from this popular track. It marks the final film for David Dhawan, who started his journey in Hindi cinema in 1989 with “Taaqatwar”.Talking about David Dhawan, he has directed 45 films such as “Aankhen,” “Biwi No.1,” “Judwaa,” “Coolie No.1,” “Hero No.1”, “Deewana Mastana”, “Shola Aur Shabnam,” “Raja Babu,” “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” “Haseena Maan Jaayegi,” “Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,” “Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, “Partner,” “Chashme Baddoor” and “Main Tera Hero.”Meanwhile, Mrunal started her acting career in television, starring in “Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan” and “Kumkum Bhagya.” She made her Hindi film debut in 2018 with “Love Sonia.” The actress has featured in films such as “Super 30,” “Batla House,” “Sita Ramam” and “Hi Nanna.”The makers of one of the most anticipated movies at the moment, “Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai” unveiled the gripping trailer from the romantic comedy recently. The project marks the fourth professional association of the father and son duo, David and Varun Dhawan, after “Main Tera Hero” (2014), “Judwaa 2” (2017), and “Coolie No. 1” (2020).The family entertainer enjoys an exciting cast led by Varun, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde, along with Mouni Roy, Chunky Panday, Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Shergill, Rakesh Bedi, and Ali Asgar as the ancillary cast. Speaking about the drama, director David Dhawan shared, “This is my 46th film, and entertaining my audience continues to give me the biggest joy. The film has all the ingredients of a classic family entertainer — humour, confusion, music, and heart.”Producer Ramesh Taurani added, “With ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, we wanted to create a wholesome entertainer filled with laughter, music, romance, and family fun. We’re excited for audiences to experience the film’s energy and madness.” Made under the direction of David Dhawan, the film has been produced by Tips Films Ltd, and co-produced by Maximilian Films (UK).Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083025.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083025.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/mrunal-thakur-is-dubbing-for-something-special-calls-it-magic]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 09:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[A tale of many cities: Art Smiley Gallery hosts John Railton’s works]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/a-tale-of-many-cities-art-smiley-gallery-hosts-john-railtons-works]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Art Smiley Gallery, Dubai’s big-hearted cultural space, is presenting The Theatre of Life, a major solo exhibition by British contemporary artist, John Railton (June 6 – 11). It brings together an extensive collection of figurative paintings created over the last decade, exploring the emotional and physical presence of humanity within public spaces across cities such as Cairo, Kolkata, Marrakech, Kuwait City, and beyond. Through richly layered compositions and magically conjured atmospheric urban scenes, Railton transforms ordinary moments of everyday life into a panorama of cinematic visual narratives filled with memory, resilience, movement, and human connections.At the heart of the exhibition is the artist’s long-running artistic philosophy known as “The Theatre of Life”, a body of work inspired by Shakespeare’s famous line, “All the world’s a stage”. In Railton’s paintings, marketplaces, alleyways, streets, and public squares become theatrical spaces where workers, travellers, vendors, families and passersby, perform the quiet choreography of everyday movement and existence.The exhibition reflects on how societies are shaped through daily gestures, repetitive routines, fleeting passages, purposeful labour, and shared experiences. Rather than focusing on monuments or landmarks, Railton’s paintings celebrate the unnoticed beauty and dignity of ordinary people, whose daily journeys quietly weave what the artist describes as “the fabric of life.”Railton has always seen art as more than a visual practice. Painting is his way of understanding people, places, and inner sides of the quiet stories of everyday life. His work follows more than three decades of lived experience; it moves between personal journeys and shared cultural memory, focusing not on monumentalism, but on presence.Daily life is a constant source of inspiration for him. Crowded streets, brief encounters and passing gestures, appear throughout his work. Whether depicting urban scenes or moments observed in Morocco, his paintings capture people caught in motion, shaped by time and circumstance. Figures such as Moroccan women emerge from the environment itself, grounded, resilient, and deeply connected to their surroundings. Children often appear in his compositions, fully captured in their curiosity and openness, learning and growing under the protective presence and guidance of adults.Railton’s work is an ongoing conversation between art and life, quiet, human, and deeply rooted in day-to-day encounters. The exhibition features several large-scale works from his acclaimed The Theatre of Life series, including paintings inspired by the historic flower markets of Kolkata, the vibrant public squares of Marrakech, and the layered streets of Old Cairo. The works combine expressive brushwork, dramatic compositions and luminous colour palettes, creating emotionally immersive scenes that blur the line between observation and memory.Speaking about the exhibition, Railton says: “These paintings attempt to reveal how life is woven through daily journeys, daily exchanges, daily glances and daily gestures. Through moments like scenes from a play, we form communities, cities, and countries. My artistic journey deals with the very essence of human existence, drawing inspiration from the intricate realities of daily life, paying particular attention to the emotional and physical presence of the individual within urban settings.” Presented within the industrial and creative district of Al Quoz, where Art Smiley Gallery is based, The Theatre of Life invites visitors to experience a journey through culture, movement, humanity, and common existence, offering a contemplative reflection on the universal rhythms of urban life.At a time when societies are increasingly divided by geography, culture and pace of life, The Theatre of Life invites viewers to pause and reflect on the universal rituals that unite us. The exhibition becomes not only a portrait of specific places, but also a meditation on the shared human condition, reminding us that beneath different languages, traditions and landscapes, human life is connected through common experiences, emotions, and journeys. Originally from the United Kingdom, Railton studied Fine Art at the University of Sheffield before relocating to Spain, where he spent more than twenty years teaching art in Madrid, while continuing his artistic practice. His journey later took him to Egypt and the Middle East, where the atmosphere and rhythm of urban life became central to his visual language.Currently based in the UAE, Railton has exhibited internationally across Spain, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, the United States, and the Middle East. He has been a full time art teacher, alongside his career as an artist. His important one man shows include those at Artist Centre, Granada (1988); Torres Begue art gallery Madrid (1992); Gaudi art gallery Madrid (2021); and World Art Dubai (2024, 2025). Significant group shows are Summer Salon Goya Art Gallery New York (1995); Homage to Goya, Casa de Reloj, Madrid (1996); Homage to Velazquez Art gallery Lecrin, Granada (1998); and at art gallery Nere Chocoa, Biarritz, France (2011).Awards include the first prize, Cultural Center of Maracena, Granada (1986); third prize, Goya Art Gallery, New York (1995); first prize, international fast painting open, Casas Ibañez Albacete (2008); and World Art Dubai, Certificate for the best stand in the UK pavilion (2024). “Artists who paint urban scenes, often called cityscape or urban landscape painters,” says an AI Overview, “capture the pulse, architecture, and daily life of the metropolis. These creators document cityscapes across various styles, ranging from historical to impressionistic, and hyper-realistic.” “Artists have traditionally used their paintings of cities as tools for documenting social, political, and economic conditions,” says metropolismag.com. “They are meant to capture the essence of a place as well as its major landmarks.”]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083018.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/30/1083018.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/30/a-tale-of-many-cities-art-smiley-gallery-hosts-john-railtons-works]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 09:35:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sheikha Bodour launches AUS Press during Warsaw International Book Fair]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/sheikha-bodour-launches-aus-press-during-warsaw-international-book-fair]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), launched AUS Press at the Warsaw International Book Fair during Sharjah’s participation as Guest of Honour. AUS Press is the university’s new publishing arm, established to advance scholarship, support translation and strengthen knowledge exchange between the region and the world. Guided by high editorial standards, it will publish works of regional and international significance contributing to wider conversations on culture, society and human experience.Sheikha Bodour said “We’re launching AUS Press in the conviction that universities devote equal energy to generating knowledge and to ensuring that knowledge is then shared, translated and propagated so it can be threaded into the fabric of public conversation across diverse cultures.”Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme brought together publishers, writers, academics, artists and cultural institutions from the UAE and Poland, presenting Sharjah’s cultural vision through literature, publishing, the arts and intellectual dialogue.  As part of the launch, Sheikha Bodour also unveiled AUS Press’ first publication, AUS 25: American University of Sharjah, A Legacy of Learning | 1997–Today, a commemorative volume documenting the story of AUS from its founding in 1997 to the present day. Developed over several years to capture the university’s journey in depth, the book brings together voices from across the AUS community, including university leadership, faculty, staff, alumni and former members of the university’s leadership. AUS Press also announced its first title acquisition: the Arabic edition of Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America’s Great Power Prophet, authored by Edward Luce, with publication expected to coincide with the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026. The book is a biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, the Polish-American statesman, scholar and former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States. “AUS’ participation in Warsaw International Book Fair is a testament to the kind of university we are continuing to build: globally engaged, rooted in Sharjah’s cultural vision and committed to giving scholarship a stronger public presence,” said Dr Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS.“Through AUS Press and our wider contribution to Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme, AUS is strengthening its presence through which ideas are researched, translated, published and shared with the world. This is an important step in advancing the university’s knowledge mission, preserving regional memory and ensuring that the intellectual and cultural contributions emerging from AUS and Sharjah reach audiences beyond campus and across borders.” AUS faculty and staff contributed to two discussions during the fair. The first explored the vision behind establishing AUS Press as a university publishing arm, its development process, future publications and the challenges and opportunities shaping its growth; the second highlighted research on oral history, dialects and maritime memory, including work connected to the Center for Arab Studies and Islamic Civilisations and the Department of International Studies at the College of Arts and Sciences.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082812.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082812.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/sheikha-bodour-launches-aus-press-during-warsaw-international-book-fair]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 16:18:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sharjah opens Warsaw Book Fair as its first-ever Arab Guest of Honour]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/warsaw-book-fair-opens-with-sharjah-as-its-first-ever-arab-guest-of-honour]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[In the presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Sharjah officially opened its participation on Thursday as the first Arab Guest of Honour in the history of the Warsaw International Book Fair.The emirate has brought to the European city a cultural project it has built over five decades, presenting a contemporary image of Emirati and Arab culture at one of Central Europe’s leading cultural events.Official openingSheikha Bodour joined Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Marshal of Sejm of the Republic of Poland; Marta Cienkowska, Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage; Dorota Malinowska-Grupińska, Chairwoman of the Warsaw City Council, and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Polish Senate; at the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the fair, which runs until May 31 at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.‘Arab and Polish cultures share a deep understanding of literature’s role’Following the ribbon-cutting, Sheikha Bodour attended the opening ceremony, where she conveyed the greetings of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wishes for the fair’s continued success.She said His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan has devoted his life to culture because he believes books create the kind of dialogue that allows civilisations to meet with dignity and depth. She recalled the Sharjah Ruler’s words: “Dialogue between civilisations is not an option, but a necessity. And culture is not an inheritance we keep to ourselves, but a noble bridge through which we connect with others.”Sheikha Bodour added that Sharjah is proud to be the Guest of Honour in a country that understands language as memory, identity and continuity. Describing Warsaw as a city shaped by history and renewed by culture, she said it reminds us that culture does not merely survive history, but has the power to transform it.She added that Arab and Polish cultures share a deep understanding of literature’s role, noting that poetry in both traditions remains central to how societies understand themselves and express memory, values and belonging across generations.Sheikha Bodour said Sharjah's theme at the fair, “Two Civilisations. One Language of Letters,” celebrates difference and reflects the belief that civilisations do not have to resemble one another to understand one another; they only need to approach each other with patience, curiosity and empathy. In closing, she said that Sharjah comes to Warsaw not only with its stories but also with an open invitation to read one another, translate one another, and imagine together. She expressed hope that the fair would spark a dialogue that continues long after its conclusion and grows stronger between Warsaw and Sharjah.Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, said it was a cultural honour to welcome Sharjah as the Guest of Honour of Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, and described the emirate’s participation as a valuable cultural contribution that reflects the growing ties between Poland and the UAE.He said books remain a powerful tool for fostering understanding and dialogue between cultures, while publishers continue to play a vital role in preserving and sharing knowledge across societies.In her keynote, Marta Cienkowska, Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage, thanked Sheikha Bodour for her remarks at the opening ceremony and praised Sharjah’s appreciation of Polish culture and history. She said cultural exchange remains a powerful means of fostering dialogue and understanding between peoples, adding that the Warsaw International Book Fair plays a vital role in connecting readers, writers and publishers with Poland’s cultural scene.Dorota Malinowska-Grupińska, Chairwoman of the Warsaw City Council, said Sharjah’s participation as Guest of Honour highlights the role of books and publishing in fostering cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. As a publisher herself, she said books serve not only as cultural products but also as a means of human connection and exchange, adding that Sharjah’s presence in Warsaw brings a new dimension to dialogue with the Arab world.For his part, Jacek Oryl, Director of the Warsaw International Book Fair, said Sharjah’s selection as Guest of Honour marks a significant moment in the fair’s history and reflects growing cultural ties between Poland and the UAE. He added that the emirate’s participation offers visitors insight into Arab and Emirati culture through its literature, arts, thought and living heritage.Sheikha Bodour led an official tour of the Sharjah pavilion alongside Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, joined by distinguished guests including Mohamed Ahmed Al Harbi, UAE Ambassador to Poland; Dr Tomasz Makowski, Director of the National Library of Poland; and Grzegorz Jankowicz, Director of the Polish Book Institute, alongside publishers and representatives of cultural institutions from Poland and across Europe.During the tour, visitors were introduced to key initiatives and programmes that reflect Sharjah’s cultural project, including works presented by Emirati publishers, initiatives led by the emirate’s cultural institutions, and heritage and artistic activities featured as part of Sharjah’s participation in the fair.IKAR Publishing Season AwardsThe fair’s inaugural day featured the IKAR Publishing Season Awards ceremony, organised by the fair. This year’s Ikar Award was presented to Polish author Professor Stefan Chwin in recognition of his literary and humanitarian contributions, and his role in defending human values and cultural memory  in contemporary Polish literature. The IKAR Publishing Season Awards also honoured Piotr Dobrołęcki, who received the Author award for his contributions to Poland’s cultural and literary scene, while Wydawnictwo Czarne received the Publisher award for its role in enriching the country’s publishing industry and bringing influential literary and intellectual works to readers. The Bookstore award went to Księgarnia Artystyczna Firmin w Gdańsku for its efforts to promote reading culture and strengthen the presence of books in community life. Two civilisations. One language of letters.This year’s Warsaw International Book Fair features more than 1,200 cultural and professional events, reinforcing its position as one of Central Europe’s leading cultural platforms. Sharjah's participation as Guest of Honour presents a model for Arab cultural engagement built on dialogue, openness and the strengthening of connections between peoples through literature, arts, and knowledge.Over four days, Sharjah is presenting on its 400-square-metre pavilion, an institutional and creative presence reflecting the diversity of the UAE’s cultural landscape, with the participation of 21 cultural, academic and media institutions, 36 Emirati writers, poets, academics and artists, alongside 15 Polish participants, in a programme based on direct dialogue between Arab and Polish cultural experiences and placing books at the heart of exchange between peoples.Sharjah’s participation includes 35 cultural events, featuring 28 panel discussions, four poetry evenings, and three children’s workshops, held across the fairgrounds, the University of Warsaw, and the Grochoteka Public Library, in addition to 18 musical performances by the Sharjah National Band at the Warsaw National Theatre. These performances introduce fair visitors and audiences across Warsaw to the elements of traditional Emirati arts through a programme that links written knowledge with immersive cultural experience.Sharjah will also be activating public spaces, libraries and theatres, transforming Warsaw into an open platform introducing audiences to the history and contemporary Emirati and Arab culture.Dialogue through letters and artAs a key part of the programme, the project Tasawurat (“Visions”) brings together 10 artists and designers from the UAE and Poland to produce works inspired by Arabic and Polish poetry, exploring themes including humanity, nature, the sea, and existential reflection. It combines elements of Arabic poetic tradition with poster art, a defining feature of Poland’s visual culture. The emirate’s pavilion comprises a showcase of cultural and academic institutions, including Al Qasimi Publications, the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, the Sharjah Book Authority and the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, alongside the Emirates Writers Union, the Emirates Publishers Association, the Emirates Library and Information Association, the House of Wisdom and the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association. Also participating are the UAE Board on Books for Young People, Kalimat Group, Kalimat Foundation and the PublisHer initiative, in addition to the Sharjah Department of Culture, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, Sharjah Literary Agency, Sharjah Publishing City and the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority. ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082838.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082838.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/warsaw-book-fair-opens-with-sharjah-as-its-first-ever-arab-guest-of-honour]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 15:28:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Olivia Rodrigo breaks her silence]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/olivia-rodrigo-breaks-her-silence]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has addressed the controversy around her recent outfit. The singer spoke about her choice to wear a babydoll dress, stating that the logic behind the criticism showed how "we really normalize pedophilia in our culture”.She shared that she was actually inspired by music icons like Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love to wear them, reports ‘Variety’.Rodrigo recently donned the dresses in her "Drop Dead” music video and at her recent Spotify’s Billions Club Live concert, eliciting online criticism that the look infantilized and sexualized her."That’s been making me so upset”, she said in a clip from the New York Times Popcast, which will release the full episode tomorrow. "Not even for me. People can say whatever they want. What’s really disturbing is I have worn outfits that are maybe revealing on stage. I’ve been on stage in a sparkly bra and little shorts, which is my right, that’s fun, I felt cool and comfortable in that. And that wasn’t inappropriate, but me fully covered up in a dress that people deemed to be childlike was inappropriate”.The singer explained that the reactionary response shows "how we really normalize pedophilia in our culture. Also it’s just this rhetoric we’re fed as girls since we’re so little, which is, don’t wear that because then a man is going to sexualize your body and it’s your fault. It’s so weird”.As per ‘Variety’, she clarified that she didn’t think wearing a babydoll dress sexualized her, and that it was intended as an homage to the ’90s rock icons who inspired her."I didn’t think that I looked sexy in that at all. I was like, this is so cool. I feel I look like Kathleen Hanna or Courtney Love, all these people who are my heroes, and I felt cool and comfortable in it. I just think if we start dressing in a way that’s like, ‘I don’t want some fucking freak to think that I’m sexy like a baby’ or some crazy thing like that, I think it’s losing the plot a little bit. I’m just very protective of younger women, girls, and I don’t ever want them to be fed that rhetoric”, she added.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082712.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082712.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/olivia-rodrigo-breaks-her-silence]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Alison Brie surprised to see men’s reaction on her ‘He-Man’ villain role]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/alison-brie-surprised-to-see-mens-reaction-on-her-he-man-villain-role]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Actress Alison Brie has spoken about the reaction from men to her role in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, which has been unlike anything she has experienced before. The 43-year-old actress will play villain Evil-Lyn opposite Jared Leto as Skeletor in the new live-action adaptation of “Masters of the Universe.”The film also stars Nicholas Galitzine, Idris Elba, Kristen Wiig, Camila Mendes and Morena Baccarin, arrives amid renewed nostalgia for major 1980s franchises returning to cinemas. Speaking to people.com, Brie said: “People have been coming out of the woodwork to talk to me about it, people I haven’t heard from in ages because they’re so excited about it. It’s very cute.”She added: “I think it has that multi-generational connection because I know all the people who originally grew up on it are excited, and then they have kids and they’re excited to bring them.”The film also marks another major studio reboot for Mattel following the enormous success of “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie, which became a global phenomenon in 2023 and sparked ongoing interest in toy-based film adaptations, reports femalefirst.co.uk. The actress, who has been married to actor Dave Franco for nine years, said the men in her family and friendship circle had reacted especially enthusiastically after hearing she had joined the He-Man project. She added: “Jared Leto is Skeletor, which is amazing, and I’m Evil-lyn, his second in command.And it’s the most excited the men in my life have ever been about anything I’ve ever done!” Brie continued: “I have three nephews and they’re as excited as the middle-aged men. Some of them probably still have their He-Man action figures to be honest. It’s fun when you work on a project like this that has touched so many people.” The “Masters of the Universe” franchise first launched in 1982 through Mattel’s “He-Man” action figure line before exploding into mainstream popularity with the animated series “He-Man” and the “Masters of the Universe” in 1983.The franchise later inspired comic books, spin-off shows and the cult 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella and Courteney Cox. The new adaptation will split its action between Earth and Eternia.According to the official synopsis, Nicholas plays Prince Adam, who was sent away from Eternia as a child and grows up on Earth living an ordinary life before discovering the Sword of Power and embracing his destiny as He-Man.Meanwhile, Nicholas may have seen all his strict dieting and hard work at the gym pay off to transform into He-Man for “Masters of the Universe,” but he didn’t mind when that training came to an end. “I had to go into a movie three weeks later where the director said, ‘I need you to not look the way you look right now, so eat what you want, stop weightlifting,’” Galitzine told at the “Masters of the Universe” premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082709.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082709.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/alison-brie-surprised-to-see-mens-reaction-on-her-he-man-villain-role]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 08:51:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Return of the video store? Michigan shop stocks more than 10,000 VHS tapes]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/return-of-the-video-store-michigan-shop-stocks-more-than-10000-vhs-tapes]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[At first, Static Tape Video only stocked a couple dozen VHS tapes. But after the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Harrison Lange, 30, says VHS tapes started “flying off the shelf” of his retro video store in Muskegon. “That’s when the VHS boom happened,” he said. There are now more than 10,000 tapes lining the walls, packed onto shelves two rows deep. Most are $1. They surround a tower of boxy TVs, playing a movie cut with static. Vintage pinball machines ding nearby.The rest of the store brims with DVDs and Blu-rays. As on-demand streaming took over in the past decade, video stores became relics of the past. Blockbuster and Family Video sputtered out, leaving empty storefronts to collect dust throughout the country. But a growing enthusiasm for physical media means Video Home Systems are back. “There’s something special about looking through aisles and finding a movie,” Lange said.There’s a mix of factors powering this revival: customers are cutting back on streaming services as costs go up. Digital overload has prompted people to find ways to unplug. And younger generations, fatigued by social media, are increasingly seeking real experiences, tangible products and human connections. “People want to touch grass,” said Marcus Collins, a marketing professor from the University of Michigan. “They want to feel something is real. Especially at a time when you know, the world is dominated with AI slop, people don’t even know what’s real.”All this has fuelled a multi-billion-dollar nostalgia economy – vinyl records, books, dumbphones, CDs and VHS. And in Michigan, a few video stores are catching the wave of customers going analog.Independent video stores were long gone.Blockbuster had closed shop (other than the last store on earth). Family Video was on death’s door. And in that, Lange saw an opportunity: “People are going to not only want a video store, but I felt like it was going to be a need.” Static Tape, which sells new and used movies, music and video games, opened in 2019. Since then, the store has expanded three times, filling out suites in Muskegon’s Lakes Mall to satisfy a growing appetite for physical movies. “It’s not slowed down,” Lange said.Lange sources his VHS supply by travelling to Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and all over Michigan. He recently drove across the state to pick up 600 tapes in Flint. Stacks of VHS also land in his lap, occasionally a library curated by someone who recently passed away.“You always got to approach it as, this is someone’s collection,” he said. Static Tape is among a resurrection of brick-and-mortar video stores that have opened throughout the country including in Los Angeles, New York, Texas and Iowa. More have popped up in Michigan.There’s Alive Again, a 1980s horror store that sells VHS, DVDs, books and collectibles, in Grand Rapids. Your Media Exchange buys and sells music, books and movies (even laserdiscs) in Ann Arbor. And vintage stores throughout the state are stocking shelves with old movies. Even a new video rental store opened last year. Bardertown Video, aiming to recapture the bygone era of mom-and-pop video rental stores, is a “little corner of love” for owner Rob Grimes, 59, and employee Aric Whelan, 49. Located south of Grand Rapids, the shop rents VHS tapes for $1 a week. No VCR? That can be rented too.“There is a whole new generation that is seizing the day and starting to discover there’s a certain amount of magic standing in a store, discovering something you love,” Grimes said.The VHS gospel is also spreading online. A VHS subreddit has nearly 80,000 tapeheads. Thousands of enthusiasts post their hauls, collections and rare finds in Facebook groups. And more than 4 million Instagram posts have been tagged under #vhs with some users posting about switching to old TVs, “No commercials. No more infinite options. No subscriptions. Pure nostalgia magic.”The trend even got a celebrity endorsement from comedian Pete Davidson who bought 10,000 sealed VHS tapes on a hunch they’d “be worth billions of dollars.” But that investment, he recently admitted, didn’t pan out.Alexander Bartoli, 39, started collecting movies about five years ago when he found old VHS tapes from his childhood. He now has a “museum” of DVDs stored in thin cases and a newly built wall holding 400 tapes in his basement.“Nothing compares to putting in the VHS and (seeing) the actual quality, the tracking and the clicking,” he said.Bartoli, a regular shopper at Static Tape, wants to share the experience of browsing a video store with his kids. His 6-year-old daughter, Amelia, is now building her own collection of movies that aren’t online.At Static Tape, customers are encouraged to linger over the vast collection of movies – from collectibles like Indiana Jones, to Disney classics and even tapes of old Detroit Lions games, home recordings from the early 90s labelled with handwritten sticky notes.And the store hosts events like Michigan is Dead, a horror convention and tape swap that drew hundreds of people this year.“People want to go out and do things,” said Lange. “Parents especially want their kids to go out and experience things because they remember going to the video store and how much they loved it.”As the digital era has overwhelmed people with screens, content, doomscrolling and algorithms, Collins says people are yearning for tangible products and lived experiences.Tribune News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082702.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/29/1082702.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/29/return-of-the-video-store-michigan-shop-stocks-more-than-10000-vhs-tapes]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 08:32:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Cynthia Erivo tells about her friendship with Ariana Grande]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/cynthia-erivo-tells-about-her-friendship-with-ariana-grande]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Hollywood actress Cynthia Erivo, who became the focal point of memes during the ‘Wicked: For Good’ press tour, has now spoken up about the same.The actress became the subject of a barrage of memes on her friendship and allegedly over-protective nature towards her co-star Ariana Grande, reports ‘Variety’.She told ‘Variety’, "I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends. But that’s also because people don’t know me very well. If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not”.She said the two still text almost every day. While much of the coverage of the incident praised her fast reflexes, it also prompted jokes, memes and TikTok videos portraying Erivo as Grande’s "bodyguard”.She further mentioned, "I think that we haven’t really come to terms with the insidious nature of how we view Black women. And I’m sure people will read this and think, ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, it’s not about that’. But it is. Because that’s what was being made fun of. It was my physique; it was my shape; it was the fact that I was bald, it was about what I looked like. And because of that, there was this assumption that I was bigger than my co-star and so I had to be controlling or protecting, and that was my role. I would hazard a guess that it would not have been the same had it been the other way around”.As per ‘Variety’, ‘Wicked: For Good’ was snubbed by the Academy across the board. The Oscars campaign window goes on for a "long time”, particularly in the post-Covid era, when the ceremony is often pushed into mid-March.She said, "If it was a shorter stint of time, there is less potential for things to turn sour, and also there’s more energy to keep it going”.At the beginning of this year, while Oscar campaigning was in full swing, Erivo went into rehearsals for ‘Dracula’."I guess it’s like a reemerging again, putting my feet back on the ground again”, she said of returning to the West End. "Because ‘Wicked’ was its own storm in a teacup. It took over everything and, beautifully, changed my life”.Considering the success of the franchise, and the fact that Elphaba survives, there’s inevitably been chatter about a third movie.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082490.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082490.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/cynthia-erivo-tells-about-her-friendship-with-ariana-grande]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 09:50:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Jennifer Lopez still gets anxious over kissing scenes]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/jennifer-lopez-still-gets-anxious-over-kissing-scenes]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has shared that filming kissing scenes on set still feels "a bit nerve-racking” after all these years.The actress-singer attended the premiere of her and Brett Goldstein's new romantic comedy, "Office Romance" at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre recently, reports ‘People’ magazine.She told ‘People’, "I've been doing this a long time. I want to say that I was fine, but it's always a thing. It's like, ‘Okay, I have to kiss this person that I don't know and I'm just getting to know you.' You get a little nervous, that's all”.Acknowledging the fact that the bright lights and huge cameras can add to the pressure, Goldstein, 45, insists that the secret to shaking off the nerves is to "just go for it” without giving it a second thought.In the new Netflix movie, JLo plays Jackie Cruz, a CEO at a major company who falls for her recently hired employee, Daniel Blanchflower, played by Goldstein.As per ‘People’, their secret love affair is in full swing when Jackie and Daniel decide to stop playing by the rules and start following their hearts. While speaking about working with the Ted Lasso star at the Netflix Upfront earlier this month, JLo said that they had "great chemistry” from the moment they met.She further mentioned, "I expected more of a rough guy, but you get this kind, gentle but also very smart person that is so charming. That was a surprise, I think”."I was a huge fan of his from him doing Ted Lasso. Roy Kent, that's one of my favorite characters. I thought he was going to be more like the character, but he was so soft-spoken and sweet and totally different”, she added.For his part, Goldstein previously said that he and co-writer Joe Kelly wrote the rom-com specifically with JLo in mind during a train ride as they filmed Ted Lasso's third season.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082489.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082489.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/jennifer-lopez-still-gets-anxious-over-kissing-scenes]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 09:45:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Miles Davis centennial celebrated in stunning new photography exhibition]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/miles-davis-centennial-celebrated-in-stunning-new-photography-exhibition]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[It’s a celebratory Wednesday night at Musichead Gallery on Sunset Boulevard. Jazz music drifts into the night from an open doorway guarded by a resolute figure in a black suit. Light from an old marquee shines on the sidewalk, trumpeting the evening’s main event in all caps: “Miles Davis: A Century of Cool.” Inside, the gallery’s owner and curator, Sam Milgrom, was ready to reveal his latest exhibition. “There are a few (photos) in there that I’m really excited and proud to show to everyone, moments that are so important in the history of jazz,” Milgrom says, smiling. “Anyone who loves music should experience this and learn a little bit about who [Davis] was and why he was so damn cool.”The show celebrates the late jazz musician’s centennial through imagery captured over a career spanning nearly five decades. On this particular evening, friends, family and photographers of Davis gather in Milgrom’s cozy gallery, its walls adorned with photographs, nestled together in slick black frames on either side of the room.Milgrom has been working on the exhibition in collaboration with the Miles Davis Estate, led by Davis’ children, Erin and Cheryl, as well as his nephew, Vince Wilburn Jr., who are all in attendance. This isn’t their first collaboration; previously, Milgrom hosted a Miles Davis book launch party and a “Kind of Blue” Scotch whiskey tasting at the gallery.Milgrom is a longtime jazz aficionado whose love of Davis dates to the 70s, when he worked in various Detroit record stores and was eventually introduced to jazz rock. It was in Motor City that he spun “Bitches Brew” countless times, and eventually promoted Davis’ albums at his own shop, Sam’s Jams, with help from Warner Brothers.“Everyone should know not just his name, but what he represented and his integrity for believing in himself, following his path, and following his ideas that led to so many innovations in music,” Milgrom says of Davis.It wouldn’t be until after the musician’s comeback tour that Milgrom would actually see him in the flesh in August 1981, and it was a moment he would not forget. He recalls the crowd in particular: “Everyone was dressed to the nines ... it was an atmosphere I had never experienced before,” he says.“The love they had for him, [the] respect and reverence and enjoyment of what he did — it was very special.”When Wilburn Jr. approached him last May about doing a centennial exhibition, he was quick to answer: “Absolutely.” “It’s been in my mind since last year, and at the beginning of this year, I started — in earnest — putting something together,” Milgrom says. Images for the show came from a variety of sources. Milgrom began in-house, as the gallery represents nearly 100 celebrated music photographers, including Robert Knight, Mick Rock and William “PoPsie” Randolph. He later looked further afield to tell the complete story of Davis.“I did my research and made a wish list of people that had taken photos of Miles; ones that I knew from album covers, and ones that I’d seen over the years,” Milgrom recalls.Other than providing contact information for the people on his list, Milgrom says the estate was hands-off throughout the process. The first time they saw the selected photos was at the opening reception. The family wouldn’t be alone in that experience — many selected photos have never before been seen by the public.“Whenever I put together an exhibition, if I can say to the photographer or the estate, ‘Do you mind if I look through the proof sheets, the contact sheets, or just give me all the files — let me look and see what’s there,’ it’s a revelation,” Milgrom says. Tom Copi, one of the exhibit’s featured photographers, attends the event in a two-piece bright yellow suit. The 81-year-old says he chose the ensemble to contrast all the darker outfits in the room.Copi first met Davis in July 1963. At age 17, he hitchhiked for nine hours from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to New York City to see Davis at the Village Vanguard. He followed the famed trumpeter into the venue’s kitchen, where Davis had gone to grab a glass of water. “He said, ‘What do you want, white boy?’ I said, ‘Well, I hitchhiked here ... just to hear you play and tell you how great we in Michigan think you are,’” he recalls.The musician didn’t reply, but apparently appreciated the gesture. During the second set, he motioned to Copi to come sit on the edge of the stage and listen to the band. It was the first and last time Copi ever spoke to Davis, but he would go on to photograph him eight times in total. Displayed at the exhibition are shots he snapped of him at Newport Jazz Festival in 1969. Davis’ son Erin arrives early to the opening, and slowly makes his way around the room, shaking hands and greeting friends. He gazes in awe at photos of his father. He says that he’s seen so many photos of his father over the years, but at Milgrom’s exhibit, there’s a “whole bunch of new ones.”“It’s cool to see stuff from before I was born ... in the ‘60s and the ‘50s — it seems almost like fantasy land,” Erin says. “There’s one with him and Spike Lee that I’ve never seen before.”“I lived out here in Malibu, but I heard that they went to Knicks games together with Jellybean Benitez, and I was like, ‘What? Can we go to a Lakers game or something out here?’” he adds, laughing.Erin is the youngest of the relatives at 55 and didn’t become directly involved with his father’s music until he was 14, when he joined Davis on tour in 1985. He moved in with his father a year later.Tribune News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082472.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/28/1082472.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/28/miles-davis-centennial-celebrated-in-stunning-new-photography-exhibition]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 09:14:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[EEG hosts drawing competition and Art from Waste event]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/eeg-hosts-drawing-competition-and-art-from-waste-event]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) concluded the 21st Cycle of the Environmental Drawing Competition (EDC) and the 3rd Cycle of Art from Waste (AfW) Competition, with an awarding ceremony held at The Ismaili Centre Dubai, on May 22. The event brought together students, educators, dignitaries, corporate representatives, jury members and families, to celebrate the creativity and environmental awareness demonstrated by young participants from across the nation.This year’s editions witnessed participation from schools representing all seven Emirates, including institutions supporting students of determination. A total of 611 government and private schools registered for the Environmental Drawing Competition, while 361 schools participated in the Art from Waste initiative, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability education and environmental engagement among the youth of the UAE.The 2026 Environmental Drawing Competition featured three themes tailored to different age groups: Ages 6 – 8: Saving the Icy Homes of My Polar Friends; Ages 9 – 11: Rivers & Lakes: Lifelines of Our Planet; and Ages 12 – 14: Fast Forward – Imagine Earth in the Year 2075. Through these themes, students explored critical environmental concerns including climate change, freshwater conservation and the future of life on Earth. The submissions reflected not only artistic excellence, but also a deep sense of environmental responsibility, innovation and hope for a sustainable future. Alongside EDC, EEG also celebrated the success of the 3rd Cycle of Art from Waste — an initiative designed to encourage students to rethink waste and embrace the principles of recycling, upcycling and circular economy practices, through practical creativity.This year’s competition challenged students to develop innovative and purposeful creations under the following themes: Group Age 9 – 11: A Three-Seater Garden Bench; Group Age 12 – 14: Solar Street Lamp: Lighting Pathways; and Group Age 15 – 17: Harnessing the Wind: Building a Windmill.The competition showcased the ability of students to transform discarded materials into functional and artistic creations, reinforcing the message that waste can become a valuable resource when approached with creativity and environmental consciousness. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Co-Founder and Chairperson of EEG, said: “Today’s gathering is far more than a celebration of artistic talent and creativity; it is a reflection of a generation that is deeply aware of its surroundings and responsibility towards protecting our planet.Through every drawing, every innovative creation and every thoughtful idea presented, our students have demonstrated the power of art as a voice for environmental stewardship and sustainable living. Through meaningful educational platforms such as these, we aim to inspire creativity, critical thinking and a lifelong commitment towards protecting our planet and preserving its precious resources.”She also expressed her appreciation to the Ministry of Education, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and Sharjah Private Education Authority for their support in encouraging participation across schools in the UAE and to The Ismaili Centre Dubai for hosting the awarding ceremony, as well as to Almarai, Dabur, Delmonte, HP and L’Oréal, for their contribution towards recognising and celebrating the achievements of the young participants. Submissions were reviewed by a distinguished panel of experts including Bahia Shehab, Senior Specialist in Student Skills Development, Counseling and Future Skills Management, Ministry of Education; Dr. Najat Makki, visual artist and Member of Dubai Cultural Council; and Pari Sagar, artist.EEG is a professional working group established in 1991 in the UAE, focused on protecting the environment through the means of education, action programmes and community involvement. It is the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). It is a member of the UN Global Compact, the Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML). EEG is a full Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).Poet and writer Gloria Adegboye notes that “art has emerged as a dynamic force in environmental activism, with artists and art organisations playing pivotal roles in raising awareness and driving change ... artists highlight pressing ecological issues, from the effects of pollution to e-waste ...” Thinking similarly, for more than two decades, EEG’s Environmental Drawing Competition has served as a pioneering educational platform that empowers students to explore environmental challenges through artistic expression. The initiative encourages young minds to think critically, creatively and compassionately about the future of the planet, while strengthening their understanding of sustainability issues.Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082172.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082172.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/eeg-hosts-drawing-competition-and-art-from-waste-event]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 08:25:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Mouni Roy puts up a post missing ‘little sister’ Disha, later deletes it]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/mouni-roy-puts-up-a-post-missing-little-sister-disha-later-deletes-it]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Actress Mouni Roy recently shared an adorable picture with her close friend Disha Patani on her social media account, calling her as her “little sister.” However, soon after the actress deleted the post for reasons not known. In the now-deleted post, Mouni Roy shared a glamorous picture posing with Disha Patani. Mouni looked stunning in a black cut-out mini outfit paired with sneakers, while Disha opted for a sporty and casual look featuring a white sports innerwear, oversized denims and a white cap.Sharing the picture, Mouni had written, “Missing my lil sister! Come back soon x @dishapatani.”For the uninitiated, Mouni Roy and Disha Patani are known to share a very close friendship in the industry. The actresses are often seen vacationing together at exotic international destinations and share glamorous and stylish pictures from their trips on social media. Recently, Disha Patani had found herself at the centre of online trolling after reports of Mouni Roy’s separation and divorce from businessman Suraj Nambiar surfaced online. Several social media users had baselessly accused Disha of being the reason behind the reported rift between Mouni and Suraj.Disha had reportedly disabled the comment section on her social media posts after receiving heavy criticism and hate messages from netizens. On May 18, Suraj had then taken to his social media account, putting an end to the chatter around their separation.Suraj had shared a strong statement clarifying that there is “no alimony, no dispute, and no third party involved” in his separation from Mouni. Taking to his social media account, Suraj wrote “Recent baseless reports surrounding our separation have been made in bad taste and are absolutely malicious. Let me set the record straight once and for all. There is no alimony. There are no disputes. There is no third party involved.”He added, “Mouni and I chose to part ways together, with mutual respect and with full consideration for each other’s wellbeing. That is the truth. Everything else being reported is fiction, and in some cases, a deliberate attempt to vilify two people who have done nothing but ask to be left alone.”He further added, “I want to state this clearly and finally: there is no truth to any of the claims being made about either of us, or about any third party. Dragging other people into this is not cool. Specially innocent friends who have nothing to do with this. Mouni and I have both conducted ourselves with dignity through this period and we expect that same dignity to be extended to us by those reporting on it.” Suraj further write, “Media houses have chosen to fabricate narratives that do not exist. These reports have been published without a shred of verification, which is highly unfair. I am calling this out clearly and directly, because staying silent in the face of deliberate misinformation is not something I am willing to do.”Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082170.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082170.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/mouni-roy-puts-up-a-post-missing-little-sister-disha-later-deletes-it]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 08:23:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sonny Rollins, saxophonist and restless genius of jazz, dies at 95]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/sonny-rollins-saxophonist-and-restless-genius-of-jazz-dies-at-95]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophonist and restless genius whose bold, distinctive tone and constant experimentation kept him on the cutting edge of jazz for more than 50 years, died on Monday at age 95. Spokesperson Terri Hinte told The Associated Press that Rollins died at his home in Woodstock, New York.She cited no specific cause of death, but said he had been largely housebound over the past couple of years because of various physical problems. From his early days as a teen phenom to his more measured solo work and experimentation with free jazz, Rollins was revered for his improvisational skill. He was one of the last living greats of the bebop era and — along with John Coltrane and Charlie Parker — one of the most influential saxophonists of his time.Rock fans got a dose of his music with the Rolling Stones’ 1981 album “Tattoo You,” which features’ Rollins’ wistful sax solo on the ballad “Waiting on a Friend,” devised after watching Mick Jagger dance. Despite his enduring success, Rollins was never quite satisfied with his art, occasionally taking lengthy hiatuses from playing and consistently adopting eclectic new styles.He always referred to himself as “a work in progress,” saying he wasn’t one of those artists who settle into one way of playing.While his early bebop work was the most popular with his fans, Rollins never looked back, saying he found it “excruciating” to even listen to the flaws in his older recordings.“I don’t consider myself a musician that has learned as much as I want to learn,” he told The Associated Press in 2007. In the 1990s and 2000s, Rollins released a string of critically acclaimed albums. He maintained a rigorous practice regimen, and continued to tour, into his 80s. Pulmonary fibrosis, a thickening and damaging of the lungs, would eventually force him into retirement. He played his last concert in 2012 and stopped playing altogether in 2014.While he missed the adoration of crowds, he missed the actual playing more. “I played a couple of concerts early on where I was out in the open in the afternoon,” He told the New York Times in 2020. “I was able to look up in the sky, and I felt a communication; I felt that I was part of something. Not the crowd. Something bigger.”His 2001 album “This is What I Do,” earned him a Grammy award for best jazz instrumental album. He won again in 2006 for best jazz instrumental solo for “Why Was I Born?” “Why Was I Born” was from the album “Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert,” a live recording from a performance in Boston just four days after the Sept. 11 attacks. Rollins, who had been evacuated from his apartment a few blocks from ground zero, had gone ahead with the concert at the urging of his wife and manager, Lucille. She died in 2004.His survivors include a nephew, Clifton Anderson, and nieces Vallyn Anderson and Gabrielle DeGroat. Rollins had gotten his first major break in his late teens when he was invited to join Thelonious Monk’s band. He soon was jamming with Miles Davis and Bud Powell, who introduced him to the recording world even before he finished high school.But like many jazz musicians in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Rollins’ rising star almost faded when he became hooked on substance abuse at the age of 19. As his addiction grew steadily worse, Rollins served two stints in jail — 10 months in 1950 and three months in 1953 — and ultimately found himself living on the streets in Chicago. In 1954, Rollins checked himself into a hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, to undergo his treatment.After being discharged, he returned to Chicago and signed on as a member of the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet. In 1956 he recorded a solo album, “Saxophone Colossus.” Its stripped-down, hard bop sound announced him as one of jazz’s premier sax players and remained one of his most influential works.In the following two years Rollins hit upon a different approach, switching to a pianoless trio on three more landmark albums: “Way Out West,” “A Night at the Village Vanguard” and “Freedom Suite.”Then, at the peak of his popularity, Rollins went into seclusion, spending the next two years practicing alone on a solitary niche above the East River on a Williamsburg Bridge walkway.“The thing that I am most proud of in my career is that fact that I was able to see beyond being popular and all that stuff,” he told the AP in 2007, “and do what my inner self told me to do.”During his absence, jazz moved away from the fast-paced, tightly woven sound of bebop to the more frenetic and chaotic free jazz. When Rollins chose to return to the scene in 1961, he embraced the new sound — a move that divided his fans. In the mid-60s, Rollins toured heavily in Europe, switching back and forth between more traditional and avant garde approaches. He contributed original music to the soundtrack of “Alfie,” the 1966 British film that made Michael Caine a star. It was during a trip to Japan when Rollins discovered Zen Buddhism, prompting another lengthy sabbatical that would last into the early 1970s.When he chose to record again in 1972, he was now regarded as a legend and gained mainstream acceptance. He was granted a Guggenheim fellowship that year, and was inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame the next. He appeared on the “Tonight Show” and began playing in concert halls instead of nightclubs.Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082167.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/27/1082167.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/27/sonny-rollins-saxophonist-and-restless-genius-of-jazz-dies-at-95]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 08:18:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[&#039;I just don’t want to be the Black James Bond,&#039; says actor Idris Elba]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/i-just-dont-want-to-be-the-black-james-bond-says-actor-idris-elba]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Casting for the new James Bond has officially begun, with all eyes now on who will step into the role of 007 following Daniel Craig’s departure.Social media speculation has run wild over the past few months, with an influx of names entering the conversation, including Theo James, Tom Hardy, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.Another name that has remained a frequent talking point is Idris Elba, who has been the subject of Bond casting rumours for years.However, Elba has now poured cold water on the speculation while promoting his new film Masters of the Universe.Speaking to People at the Los Angeles premiere, the 53-year-old was asked about his name repeatedly surfacing in James Bond discussions."My name’s not getting thrown out, no way," Idris quipped. "They’re going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can’t wait — it’s going to be amazing."He went on to suggest that he was never in the Bond race to begin with.The Bond rumours surrounding Elba have been circulating for well over a decade, dating back as far as 2011.At one point, when asked by NPR whether he would be interested in taking on a Bond role, Elba said he'd "definitely consider it"."I just don’t want to be the Black James Bond. Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don’t want to be called the Black James Bond," he added.The Independent]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1082005.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1082005.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/i-just-dont-want-to-be-the-black-james-bond-says-actor-idris-elba]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:17:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Fans honour Sombr and &#039;Golden&#039; at American Music Awards]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/fans-honour-sombr-and-golden-at-american-music-awards]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Indie musician Sombr and the voices behind "KPop Demon Hunters" took home some of the first ‌trophies on Monday at the American Music Awards, the annual ​honors determined ⁠by fan votes.The 20-year-old Sombr was ‌named the recipient of ‌best rock/alternative song for his hit "Back to Friends.""I wrote this song when I was 19 and depressed all ‌by myself in my bedroom," he said on stage at ⁠the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. "So being here, I never would have expected that."Song of the year went to "Golden," the upbeat tune from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters." The award seemed to surprise ​EJAE, one of the singers in the movie's fictional ‌group HUNTR/X."Oh my god! Oh my goodness," EJAE said to cheers before thanking fans for voting for the ⁠song.The show opened with K-pop band BTS, dressed in all-black outfits and black sunglasses, singing "Hooligan" from the Vegas concert stop on ​the ‌group's Arirang Tour."The energy is crazy in here!" ‌shouted host Queen Latifah from the stage.Taylor Swift led the field with eight nominations going into the ceremony, which aired ‌live on CBS ‌and Paramount+. The pop superstar ⁠has claimed more AMA honors than any ‌other artist over her career.Swift was competing for the top prize of artist of the ⁠year with Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, ​Lady Gaga and others. Her album, "The Life of a Showgirl," was nominated for album of the year.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081922.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081922.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/fans-honour-sombr-and-golden-at-american-music-awards]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 09:04:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali praises lead actress, Sharvari]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/filmmaker-imtiaz-ali-praises-lead-actress-sharvari]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film “Main Vapas Aaunga,” has spoken up on the film’s casting process, and said that the film’s lead actress Sharvari comes with a lot of exuberance. The filmmaker spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film along with Vedang Raina and Sharvari.Talking about the film’s casting, Imtiaz said, “The most important decision for a director as far as acting is concerned is the casting. I felt when I met each one of them individually, I felt that casting them would be a big favour to the film, because they will bring in a natural exuberance and an interest to the characters. Sharvari has that exuberance, and it is a very important part of the character that she plays, which is Jiya”.He further mentioned, “And that exuberance is something natural to her, and therefore it becomes natural for her to portray the character of Jiya. So that’s something that Jiya borrows from her. As far as Vedang is concerned, there is a certain earnestness that I felt would be very good for Kino. These are words of course, but behind this, there is a whole lot of, a series of, and the whole emotional process that he has would be very suited to the way Kino is. And I feel that when you watch the film, you’ll understand what I mean”.The film also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah. It explores the depth of human connection, this film promises to be an exciting cinematic experience. Produced by Birla Studios and Applause Entertainment along with Mohit Choudhary, Shibasish Sarkar of Window Seat Films, this Birla Studios Worldwide release will showcase in cinemas on June 12, 2026.Meanwhile, Sharvari has identified an interesting pattern in Imtiaz Ali’s storytelling. The actress pointed to the strong coming-of-age themes. The actress spoke with IANS along with Imtiaz Ali and her co-actor Vedang Raina during the promotions of the film.When asked if working with Imtiaz Ali changed something in her as an artiste, she said, “I think every experience definitely teaches you something more. But especially with Imtiaz sir, I think the emotional range of a character is something that I got to explore as an actor because it is set in a world that is so different and away from where we live today. The concept of love being so different, so delicate and so pure”.The actress further mentioned that Imtiaz guides his actors through the emotions rather than giving them very pointed briefs.“It was important for someone like me, and even Vedang would agree that when Imtiaz sir kind of guided us through those emotions, I think it brought something really special to the table. What we learned more is just the real emotion of love, and the real emotion of longing or where you belong, which is what our film touches upon. Imtiaz sir writes films that are so beautiful with characters that are coming-of-age. And that’s such an exciting time in a person’s life, you know, when you’re exploring so much about yourself, about love, about the world, and the connections. And that was very, very exciting to just live and breathe all over again. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him”, she added.Sharvari has shared she went to Punjab with her mother to get acclimatized with the land and the culture. However, both of them ended up doing “touristy things” The actress comes from a Maharashtrian background.When asked how it was for her to explore the culture of Punjab and live vicariously through her character of a Punjabi woman in the film, she said, “It was exciting at first. But as I started exploring, there was so much more to learn. And I’ve always been this first bencher in life, who loves making notes and writing and researching. It’s still a part of my process because I feel like I have had the habit of doing it in school. But I remember when Imtiaz sir and I spoke about this film. I wanted to go to Punjab before we even started talking about this film or started reading the film together.”Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081920.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081920.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/filmmaker-imtiaz-ali-praises-lead-actress-sharvari]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 09:01:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Kriti Sanon turns nostalgic as she celebrates 12 years in Bollywood]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/kriti-sanon-turns-nostalgic-as-she-celebrates-12-years-in-bollywood]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Actress Kriti Sanon turned nostalgic as she celebrated 12 years in the Hindi film industry on the 23rd of May. Taking to her social media account, the actress re-shared a fan-page collage edit featuring several of her memorable characters from films over the years. The collage showcased Kriti in multiple iconic looks and roles from her Bollywood journey.Sharing the edit, Kriti wrote, “Wow! Its been 12 years since I entered this magical world of movies!” In another social media story, Kriti shared a video clip from her debut film “Heropanti.” The still featured the actress enjoying gol gappas in a fun scene from the film. Alongside it, she wrote, “Haha I’m such a foodie that my first shot on screen in my debut Hindi film was having gol gappas.”Talking about Kriti Sanon, the actress made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with Sabbir Khan’s action-romance film “Heropanti,” opposite Tiger Shroff, who also marked his acting debut with the movie. Released on May 23, 2014, the film also starred Prakash Raj. Kriti played the role of “Dimpy,” a free-spirited young woman who falls in love amid family opposition and chaos. The actress received a warm response for her screen presence.Over the last 12 years, Kriti has been a part of several successful films including “Bareilly Ki Barfi,” “Luka Chuppi,” “Dilwale,” “Raabta,” “Hum Do Hamare Do,” “Bhediya,” “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,” “Crew” and “Do Patti.” For “Mimi” the actress won the National Film Award for Best Actress.On the work front, Kriti Sanon is now gearing up for “Cocktail 2,” where she reportedly plays a bold and glamorous character. It has already sparked comparisons with Deepika Padukone’s iconic character “Veronica” from the 2012 film “Cocktail,” which also starred Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty. “Cocktail 2” also stars Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead.Meanwhile, the makers of Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna starrer “Cocktail 2” have released the latest track from the forthcoming romantic entertainer titled “Mashooqa”. Featuring Shahid and Kriti, the song is full of fun beats, flirtation, and carefree chemistry. It perfectly captures the thrill of young love and spontaneous connection. With tunes by Universal Music, “Mashooqa” has been scored by Pritam. While the lyrics have been penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, the track has been crooned by Raghav Chaitanya, Mahmood, and Ruaa Kayy. The Italian parts of the number have been written, co-composed, and performed by Mahmood.Talking about the track, Shahid said, “Mashooqa has a vibe that pulls you in instantly. Kriti and I genuinely had such a blast shooting this one because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s stylish, playful and just a lot of fun. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to let go a little, turn the volume up and enjoy the moment. Pure summer energy.”Kriti said, “This song is such a vibe. It’s groovy, flirty and reminds me of Sicily — both musically and visually. Shahid and I were just being our goofy selves and having a blast.”Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081917.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081917.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/kriti-sanon-turns-nostalgic-as-she-celebrates-12-years-in-bollywood]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 08:58:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Art4you Gallery’s tribute exhibition to women closes at Art Smiley Art Gallery]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/art4you-gallerys-tribute-exhibition-to-women-closes-at-art-smiley-art-gallery]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Her Story – A Tribute to Women, Edition 2, hosted by Art4you Gallery (May 10 – 15) at Art Smiley Art Gallery, Dubai, was all about a dynamic cultural conversation on identity, strength, memory, change, and the diverse aspects of womanhood. The international group exhibition brought together artists, collectors, media, cultural supporters and art enthusiasts, even as the opening evening transformed the gallery into a living archive of women’s stories told through canvas, installation, mixed media, symbolism, and genuine artistic expression. Imagined with the goal of cultivating an engaging platform for narratives focused on women, Her Story transcended conventional representations of femininity. In the gallery space, women, as subjects depicted in artworks, emerged as creators, storytellers, visionaries, besides being bearers of personal experiences.The curatorial idea was founded on emotional coexistence, establishing an environment where various artistic expressions, cultures and viewpoints, could converge while delving into universal themes of vulnerability, strength, belonging, memory, emotional endurance, transformation, and identity. “Her Story was conceived as a space where stories could be seen, felt, and experienced,” said curator Jesno Jackson. “The attempt was to turn each piece of art into a piece of a broader emotional landscape that revealed women’s identities as well as the unseen and unspoken layers they carry with them throughout their lives.”The gallery became a collective visual memoir where voices, memories, and experiences coexisted. Touring the exhibition was taking a trip through emotional territories. Cristina Gabriela’s artwork The Shape She Kept, was an expressive canvas and sculpture display that explored emotional memory and the identities women hold inside themselves. The work discussed quiet resilience, or the strength that goes unnoticed on a daily basis. Seungeun Cho added modest sensitivity and contemplation to her presentation, while Vasilisa Eliseeva used layered visual expression to explore feminine emotionality.Roya Vahidi, Shaghayegh Rabiei and Shakiba Rabiei submitted pieces that reflected cultural memory, identity, and individual stories moulded by tradition and modern expression. Alchemy of Sand, The Quiet Between Places and Sweetness, As It Shows, were Natasha Boshoff’s captivating trilogy. Her paintings examined identity as something that is constantly changing, evolving, and reshaping via experience; she used desert analogies, memories of childhood, migration, and emotional change as motifs. Karoline Denisha offered viewpoints that balanced symbolic storytelling with figurative aesthetics; Tina Azar’s artwork carried sensitive depth. Perihan Marwan’s artistic style showed strong visual presence through cultural nuance, while Reem Alsuby introduced regional influence, transformed by modern interpretation.Flowers were emotive extensions of the female form in Szilvia Viczian’s poetic figurative and floral compositions. Her images created reflective narratives on growth, vulnerability, silence and inner resilience, by striking a balance between strength and delicacy. Yashi Khatanhar, Thomas Antony, Neethu George and Aimee George, all from India, presented visual voices that explored subjects from modern identity and expressive interpretation, to human emotion. While Roksana Zhamkochyan from Armenia used her visual language to convey emotional depth, Labiba Ferhat from Algeria provided artistic storytelling based on passionate symbolism. The exhibition was further enhanced by the multidisciplinary techniques and culturally different expressions of Veinna Fouad, Eric Afranie and Rick Nibert Balingan.Additionally, Rick Nibert provided artists with personalised caricature photos that were turned into collector mugs, giving the exhibition experience a memorable and engaging takeaway element. By bringing together 21 artists from 16 countries, the exhibition created a genuine global forum where various cultures came together via a common language, that of art. The immersive implementation in Her Story was one of its unique features. In addition to the artwork, the exhibition included gallery tours, artist engagements, curated walkthroughs, collector interactions, portrait products, and sustainability features.The Green Revolution DXB, the exhibition’s sustainability partner, offered customised floral arrangements created for Her Story, adding a significant ecological element. The exhibition’s dedication to conscientious innovation and sustainable artistic experiences, was reinforced by floral interventions, which represented femininity, resiliency, growth, and nature. “Art is more than visual expression,” said Rengi Cherian, co-founder of Art4you Gallery. “It is cultural continuity, memory, and connection. We aimed to provide a platform through Her Story where artists could celebrate authenticity and common human experiences, while sharing stories that travel over national boundaries and linguistic barriers.”A silent query hung in the air as guests passed through the gallery: How many incarnations of ourselves do we carry with us in our lives? Maybe Her Story was never meant to answer that query. Rather, it encouraged viewers to stroll through lives. Her Story – A Tribute to Women, became a living archive of women’s voices, preserved through art, memory, and collective artistic experience.“Very few women artists,” says wendyrobertsfineart.com, “and very few from other cultures, have reached household widespread awareness like the short list of almost exclusively male artists anyone can rattle off the top of their heads ... Leonardo, Michelangelo, Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Dali, Picasso ... These artists and a scattering of others are treated as if they were the only genius artists who ever lived. It simply isn’t accurate.” While historical collections remain heavily skewed toward men, adds an AI Overview, contemporary acquisitions and exhibitions are seeing steady corrections. For example, recent data on institutional acquisitions shows that works by female artists are highly prioritised today to achieve better equity. Modern art history focuses on both recovering lost female artists from the shadows and correcting ongoing institutional biases. Her Story was in line with this ongoing work.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081910.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/26/1081910.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/26/art4you-gallerys-tribute-exhibition-to-women-closes-at-art-smiley-art-gallery]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 08:52:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[‘Dahab’ steals spotlight at Duo Theatre fest in Dibba Al Hisn]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/dahab-steals-spotlight-at-duo-theatre-fest-in-dibba-al-hisn]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The ninth edition of the Duo Theatre Festival continued its activities at the Cultural Centre in Dibba Al Hisn, in the presence of Ahmed Bu Rahima, Director of the Theatre Department at the Department of Culture and Festival Director, alongside a number of local and Arab artistic and cultural figures.Audiences on the festival’s second day watched the Egyptian play Dahab, presented by the “Egyptian Artists for Culture” troupe. The play was written and directed by Amr Qabil, who also performed in it alongside the child actress Dana.In the production, chance brings together a man fleeing a painful past that has driven him into isolation, and a lost and sorrowful little girl whose closest loved ones have forgotten her. Their dialogue begins tensely, particularly because the man feels his solitude has been invaded, but they soon grow closer. The harmonica music played by the man becomes the key to their bond, dissolving the sense of alienation between them and allowing them to connect. By the end of the performance, they discover that they are capable of confronting their fears and pain through returning home.The critical seminar, moderated by Egyptian actress Iman Imam, praised the dramatic approach that addressed two social groups - children and the elderly. Most contributions commended the outstanding stage presence of the young actress and her emotional composure throughout the approximately sixty-minute performance. Questions were also posed to the creator of the production regarding the challenges arising from combining writing, directing and acting responsibilities.Director Amr Qabil thanked the festival management and praised its unique concept, noting that Duo Theatre represents an enjoyable artistic adventure. He also expressed appreciation for all the observations raised during the seminar, which concluded with Nada Abdullah Al Hassani, representing the Social Services Department branch in Dibba Al Hisn – sponsor of the festival’s second day – presenting a certificate of appreciation to the Egyptian troupe.The festival’s second day commenced with the opening session of the 21st Sharjah Forum for Arab Theatre, held under the theme “Theatre and Education.”The sessions were moderated by Emirati artist Faisal Al Darmaki, who highlighted the initiatives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in establishing and supporting the school theatre experience locally and across the Arab world.The forum’s first paper, titled “Theatre and Education: From Philosophical Interconnection to Aesthetic Identification,” was presented by Dr Said Karimi of Morocco.In his presentation, he shed light on the historical and philosophical origins of the organic relationship between theatrical art and educational systems, from the Greek era to modern times.Karimi also reviewed the role of educational theatre and its applications in awakening critical awareness among audiences, before examining the reality of school theatre within the Moroccan context through indigenous performance forms and the theory of celebratory theatre.In conclusion, he called for the formulation of clear institutional policies to integrate theatrical arts into official curricula, considering them an urgent educational necessity for building responsible and active citizens.The second paper, titled “Theatre as an Educational Medium: The Duality of Pedagogy and Art,” was delivered by Dr Mohammed Amin Banioub of Morocco. He called for educational theatre to move away from rigid traditional teaching methods towards a space of living experience and active student participation.Banioub explained that dramatic play and theatrical practice within schools and universities constitute an exceptional educational medium due to their ability to unlock the hidden potential of young people, refine their personalities, and help them overcome issues such as fear, introversion and hesitation.The third paper, titled “The Educational Function of Arab Theatre in the Age of Digital Transformation,” was presented by Dr Fawzia Dhaifallah of Tunisia. She discussed how digital media has influenced the awareness and aesthetic reception of the new generation, stressing the importance of renewing theatre’s educational mechanisms so they align with the language of the digital age without compromising its essential human and live nature.WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081643.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081643.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/dahab-steals-spotlight-at-duo-theatre-fest-in-dibba-al-hisn]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:54:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Shakira says she has no time for love]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/shakira-says-she-has-no-time-for-love]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Singer-songwriter Shakira has shared that she is too busy for love. The singer has been single since her long-term relationship with Gerard Pique, the father of her sons Milan, 13, and 11-year-old Sasha, ended in 2022.The singer has said that she isn't looking for anyone new because she is enjoying her time with her kids and focusing on her career, reports ‘Female First UK’.She told The Times newspaper, "No romance for me for now. There’s no space or time in my life for that. My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority”.She further mentioned, "And my career. Strangely enough, I’m in love with my career like I’ve never been in my life. I’m enjoying my time alone as well”.As per ‘Female First UK’, the 49-year-old star reflected on going through the "darkest moment" of her life when she split from Gerard, at a time while her father William was hospitalised following a severe fall, but she ultimately feels stronger for her experiences.She said, "(I was living through) the darkest moment, when I saw the dissolution of my family. The family that I had dreamt to keep forever. I’ve been through so much pain, but it has made me perhaps in an unforeseen way a wiser person, or stronger, at least. They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it is true. It’s amazing to learn that humans have a resilience that we can resort to at any moment in our lives”."Sometimes through hardships and through pain is how we discover how strong we can be. Suffering sometimes makes you a better person, makes you value friends and support”, she added.Shakira believes there are always lessons to learn from hardship. She said, "Life sometimes can be a b****, but it’s also beautiful and made of light and shadows. So I thank life for every single moment, the bright ones and the dark ones, the people who have made me suffer because they have become my masters who have taught me lessons, very valuable lessons”.The singer will always be grateful to Gerard for the impact he had on her life.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081610.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081610.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/shakira-says-she-has-no-time-for-love]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 09:33:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Stars show off eye-catching looks at the Cannes Film Festival]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/stars-show-off-eye-catching-looks-at-the-cannes-film-festival]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Cannes Film Festival concluded on Saturday with its traditional awards ceremony after two action-packed weeks of world premieres, star-studded red carpets, parties and fashion shows. AFP looks back on some of the highlights: Although there was no Hollywood blockbuster launch in Cannes this year and some festival-goers reported fewer US film execs in town than usual, the cast of the original “The Fast and the Furious” provided some American sparkle.Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster and the daughter of late co-star Paul Walker reunited for a midnight screening to mark 25 years since the car-racing blockbuster, with their smiles, tears and tributes to Walker providing a moment of raw emotion in the packed main cinema.Standing ovations at premieres are a serious and competitive business in Cannes, with reporters timing them as an indicator of how well a film has been received. This year’s winner appeared to be Spain’s “La Bola Negra” (“The Black Ball”), a film set partly during the country’s civil war, which was awarded a hand-aching 16-minute round of applause on Thursday, according to industry title Variety.Spanish superstar Javier Bardem, many people’s tip for the Cannes best actor award for his turn in “The Beloved” by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, is known as one of the industry’s most outspoken figures on issues from Gaza to violence against women. Plane-mad John Travolta showed his directorial debut in Cannes with “Propeller One-Way Night Coach”, a largely forgettable personal project based on his memories of his first flight on an airliner as an eight-year-old.His genuine surprise and gratitude when he was honoured with a Cannes lifetime achievement award — perhaps making up for the fact that he has never won an Oscar? — was memorable for all those present.Demi Moore fully embraced the vibe of her Oscar-nominated role in “The Substance” to push the boundaries of what a 63-year-old woman can look wonderful in, from a silvery Jacquemus bustier dress on opening night to a figure-hugging sheer lavender Gucci gown.Supermodel Bella Hadid arrived in a show-stopping Schiaparelli dress at the premiere of the Charles de Gaulle biopic “De Gaulle: Tilting Iron”. The film industry remains opposed to artificial intelligence on the whole, fearful of its potential to kill off jobs for animators, scriptwriters and eventually actors.“Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson, a special effects specialist, struck a dissonant note by saying that AI was “going to destroy the world” but when it came to film, “I don’t dislike it at all”. Every year in Cannes, a few titles emerge with rave reviews and an unexpected buzz around their directors.For lovers of independent Russian cinema, which has been stifled since the Kremlin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the sight of director Andrey Zvyagintsev walking the red carpet was a cause for celebration. The “Leviathan” director nearly died during the Covid pandemic and now lives in exile in France, but his ability to tell a story with rare subtlety and beauty remains undimmed, with his “Minotaur” a frontrunner for the best film prize.Football and arthouse movies rarely mix, but French legend Eric Cantona has helped build bridges between the two since hanging up his playing boots at Manchester United and embarking on an acting career. The enigmatic striker appeared in a movie, “Les Matins Merveilleux” (“Marvellous Mornings”), and was the subject of an entertaining documentary, “Cantona”, that sees him explore the “demons” that made him such a combustible player.One of the joys of Cannes is seeing sometimes little-known directors from across the globe finding themselves on one of the biggest cinema stages on the planet. This year’s edition featured a rousing first film about the war-torn Central African Republic — “Congo Boy” — with its nerveless director Rafiki Fariala showcasing the catchy soundtrack he wrote by breaking into song at the end of the premiere.Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan brought her signature royal aura to Cannes in a dramatic royal blue shimmering bodycon gown. Aishwarya marked her presence at the film festival on Friday night.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081604.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/25/1081604.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/25/stars-show-off-eye-catching-looks-at-the-cannes-film-festival]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 09:13:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Norway-set drama about political polarisation ‘Fjord’ wins Palme d’Or at Cannes]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/norway-set-drama-about-political-polarisation-fjord-wins-palme-dor-at-cannes]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Cristian Mungiu’s Norway-set drama about political polarisation, "Fjord,” has won the Palme d’Or, handing the Cannes Film Festival ’s top honour for the second time to Mungiu, the Romanian director of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.”At a 79th Cannes Film Festival that saw few films cause a stir, "Fjord” found wide admiration for its engrossing tale of what Mungiu called "left-wing fundamentalism.” It stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as Romanian Evangelicals who move to Norway, but soon after have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them."Today the society is split. It’s divided. It’s radicalised,” said Mungiu. "This film is a pledge against any type of fundamentalism. It's a pledge for these things we quote very often, like trauma and inclusion and empathy. These are lovely words but we need to apply them more often.”Mungiu becomes just the 10th filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or twice. His "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” a Romanian abortion drama, won the award in 2007.The win for "Fjord” extends one of the movies’ most extraordinary streaks. Neon, the speciality label, has now taken seven Palme d’Or winners in a row. "Fjord” adds to its unparalleled run, including last year’s champion, Jafar Panahi’s "It Was Just an Accident,” and the 2024 winner, "Anora.” The latter went on to win best picture at the Oscars.The Grand Prix, or second prize, went to "Minotaur,” Andrey Zvyagintsev’s domestic thriller set against Russia’s war with Ukraine. Loosely based on Claude Chabrol’s 1969 film "The Unfaithful Wife,” "Minotaur” is about a Russian businessman suspicious of his wife’s indiscretions. At the same time, he’s tasked with conscripting 150 of his workers for Vladimir Putin’s war machine."The only person who can stop this butchery is you, Mr. President of the Russian Federation,” Zvyagintsev said, accepting his award. "Put an end to this slaughter. The whole world is waiting for this.”Not a banner festBy wide consensus, it wasn’t a banner festival. Hollywood largely sat out this year’s edition. Many of the selections struggled to bowl over critics. The global buzz that Cannes typically generates was fitful at best.But the awards handed out on Saturday as the 79th Cannes drew to a close will significantly raise the international profiles of the winners. Last year's Cannes produced a long string of Oscar nominees, including "Sentimental Value” and "The Secret Agent.”The nine-member jury that decided the awards was headed by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao and Stellan Skarsgård were also jurors. Chan-wook, a Cannes regular including last year with his satirical thriller "No Other Choice,” joked that he preferred not to give away the Palme."To be honest, I didn’t want to award the Palme d’Or to any of the films, because it’s an award I myself have never gotten,” Chan-wook told reporters after the ceremony. "But I had no other choice.”Two films won for best director: the Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski, for his postwar drama "Fatherland,” and the Spanish creative duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo for "The Black Ball,” a generation-spanning queer epic.It was Pawlikowski's second time winning the same Cannes prize in as many films, following his "Cold War” in 2018. But the award marked a breakthrough for Ambrossi and Calvo in their first Cannes entry."No one knew us. Thierry didn’t know us," Ambrossi told reporters, referring to Thierry Fremaux, Cannes artistic director. "It was just that the movie spoke.”Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, the two stars of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s "All of a Sudden,” shared the best actress award. In the elegantly empathetic drama, the two play women brought together in friendship out of their mutual sense of care for others.The jury also split the best actor prize. They chose Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, the two stars of "Coward,” Lukas Dhont’s drama about young Belgian men sent to the frontlines of World War II.The prize for best screenplay was awarded to Emmanuel Marre for "A Man of His Time,” a French drama about a Nazi collaborator in Vichy France. Marre based it on the experiences of his own great-grandfather.The jury prize, or third place, went to German filmmaker Valeska Grisebach’s "The Dreamed Adventure,” a crime drama set in a Bulgarian border town.Saturday’s ceremony was missing its tribute honoree. Barbra Streisand was to receive an honorary Palme d’Or, but a knee injury prevented her from attending. Isabelle Huppert nevertheless celebrated Streisand during the ceremony, and Streisand appeared in a taped video message.The Camera d’Or, Cannes’ award for best first film, went to Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo’s post-genocide drama "Ben’Imana,” the first Rwandan film to be officially selected for the festival.Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081360.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081360.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/norway-set-drama-about-political-polarisation-fjord-wins-palme-dor-at-cannes]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 14:47:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Mohammed Bin Rashid Library celebrates Emirati Writer’s Day]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/mohammed-bin-rashid-library-celebrates-emirati-writers-day]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library marked Emirati Writer’s Day with a large-scale cultural celebration held in collaboration with leading cultural and national institutions across the UAE, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Emirati writers and strengthening the country’s literary and creative landscape.The event brought together prominent Emirati writers, intellectuals, researchers, and creatives for a series of panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and interactive sessions that highlighted the richness and diversity of Emirati literature and culture.Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said Emirati writers have become key contributors to reinforcing national identity and enhancing the UAE’s cultural presence regionally and globally. He also stressed the importance of investing in young writers and fostering spaces that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and cultural dialogue.Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Board Member at the Foundation, said the celebration reflects the institution’s ongoing efforts to empower Emirati writers and expand their presence within the local and regional cultural scene through initiatives that support dialogue, knowledge exchange, and literary development.A highlight of the programme was the keynote session, “Nurturing the Writer: Qalam Creative Writing Programme as a Model,” organised in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, focusing on the role of specialised programmes in developing emerging literary talent.The celebration also featured a brainstorming session on the future of Emirati literature, a theatre writing discussion held in collaboration with the Dubai National Theatre, and book signings with Emirati authors organised alongside the Ministry of Culture and Sandooq Al Watan.In recognition of local literary achievements, the event hosted the Ghanem Ghobash Short Story Award ceremony, organised by the Emirates Writers Union.The programme further included workshops for young writers, Arabic calligraphy and gilding workshops, as well as cultural exhibitions presented in collaboration with institutions including the Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah Book Authority, and the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage.Among the event’s standout initiatives was the “Human Library” experience, organised with the Emirates Writers Union, offering audiences the opportunity to engage directly with Emirati writers and intellectuals through personal conversations and storytelling sessions.Recently, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation announced the launch of “Dubai Archive,” a national project aimed at establishing an advanced system for managing documents and knowledge assets.The strategic initiative supports Dubai’s vision to preserve its history and national heritage while strengthening its readiness for the future.The pioneering project, launched during a press conference held at the Foundation’s headquarters in Al Jaddaf, seeks to support the sustainability of Dubai’s institutional memory, enhance government efficiency, and advance digital transformation and knowledge management.Dubai Archive marks a significant step forward in the development of document management and archiving systems through the adoption of international best practices for preserving government, semi-government, and historical archives. The project also supports the efficient use of human and technical resources while advancing Dubai’s open data agenda to ensure the sustainability, accessibility, and effective management of information.In a keynote address during the event, Al Murr said: “’Dubai Archive’ represents a qualitative shift in document and knowledge management. The project goes beyond the traditional framework of archiving to establish an integrated system that strengthens Dubai’s institutional memory and supports knowledge sustainability.”Al Murr added: “A document is not merely an administrative record, but a witness to a period, a reflection of decisions, and the outcome of accumulated experiences that together form a national memory.”Gulf Today, Staff Reporter]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081317.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081317.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/mohammed-bin-rashid-library-celebrates-emirati-writers-day]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 11:06:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Nick Jonas reveals the movie which always makes him cry]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/nick-jonas-reveals-the-movie-which-always-makes-him-cry]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Singer, actor Nick Jonas’ emotions always get the best of him over a certain Disney movie. The actor-singer shared that he always tears up while watching ‘The Lion King’.During a panel for his new film, ‘Power Ballad’ in New York City, Nick Jonas, 33, joined his co-star Paul Rudd and director John Carney to chat with Josh Horowitz, reports ‘People’ magazine.When Horowitz asked Nick if there were any songs or films that made him emotional, the musician got candid about something he's watched with his 4-year-old daughter, Malti.He said, "Well, I'll say there are two scenes in this movie that I'm not in, and they hit me super hard as a father”.He further mentioned, "I think there's a real thing that you'll see. I want you to think about this powerful stuff, family, that aspect. Then, outside of that, when I cry over a movie, it's ‘The Lion King’. You know, things that I'm getting to watch with my daughter these days and kind of read some of those experiences, the stories that shaped who I became, and now I'm sharing that with her. It's a totally special thing to experience”.As per ‘People’, he said that he also "always" cries during movies on planes. Nick welcomed his daughter with his wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, in 2022.On April 8, Jonas shared a photo on Instagram of himself kissing Malti on her head. "Week 1 in Vancouver”, he captioned the adorable shot. Last month, Priyanka, 43, appeared on an episode of Amanda Hirsch's Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, where she also gave an update about raising their daughter."As she's growing older, we've started to also kind of just deflect a little bit. She moves around a lot, (so we) let her have as much anonymity as she can. It is her normal, and people will be curious about her, and I never want her to be fearful of that or judgy or skeptical of the humans she meets because there are good people in the world, and I've had wonderful experiences with friends like that. It's okay for her to be aware of it, but to have a sense of choice”, she added.IANS]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081295.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081295.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/nick-jonas-reveals-the-movie-which-always-makes-him-cry]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 09:24:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Maika Monroe, much more than ‘Scream Queen’ returns to Cannes]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/maika-monroe-much-more-than-scream-queen-returns-to-cannes]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Maika Monroe’s career essentially began at the Cannes Film Festival. Her breakthrough role in “It Follows” premiered in Cannes’ Critics Week sidebar in 2014. “I was a newbie,” recalls Monroe. “I’m pretty sure I spent my 21st birthday here. I was like: ‘Well isn’t that exciting, to turn 21 in a country where I could have drank in for years.’” “It Follows,” about a sexually transmitted curse, was part of a new wave of probing, atmospheric horror films.But then, it was a small $1.3 million indie movie that had little reason to expect a Cannes launch. “It was surreal. You never expect going into making a film that this will happen,” Monroe said in an interview on the rooftop of Cannes’ Palais des Festivals. “But especially for that film. It was such a tiny, indie horror film. At that point, there really wasn’t genre at this festival.”That has changed, though. Horror, science fiction and even slasher films have increasingly shown up in Cannes. This year, that included Jane Schoenbrun’s film, the Korean monster-sci-fi-mashup “Hope” and the gothic thriller “Victorian Psycho,” starring Monroe as an unhinged governess.On the surface, “Victorian Psycho,” which premiered on Thursday in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, appears to extend Monroe’s reputation as the preeminent “Scream Queen” of her generation. Along with “It Follows,” she’s been at the centre of horror films like 2022’s “Watcher” and 2024’s “Longlegs.”But Monroe’s range as an actor far exceeds any neat genre identification. She brought Hitchcockian depth to “Watcher” and psychological intensity to “Longlegs.” Bodies get bloody in “Victorian Psycho,” too, but Monroe’s deranged protagonist is archly hysterical. She’s a hoot. As much as Monroe may be associated with horror, she might be even better at comedy. In the gleefully morbid “Victorian Psycho,” she finally turns the tables. After years spent fleeing serial killers and worse, Monroe is on the offensive.“I didn’t know if I could pull it off. I decided to take the leap,” Monroe says. “Man, it was just so much fun. There’s so much freedom in this role. It will definitely be the character I’ll miss the most.”In Zachary Wigon’s “Victorian Psycho,” which Bleecker Street will release on Sept. 25 in theatres, Monroe plays Winifred Notty. In the 1850s, she arrives at the Ensor House, the grand manor of the Pounds family, to serve as the eager governess to two children. It doesn’t take long for the children to realise she has a screw loose. But Winifred is comically chipper, even when deranged and over the top. As distant as the part might be from Monroe — a Santa Barbara, California, native here doing a British accent for the first time — it’s the first role to really capture Monroe’s natural comic energy.“I’ve never done anything remotely close to a role like this,” Monroe says. “I’m usually more introverted and internal with my roles, and this is very outward.” Almost always in “Victorian Psycho,” Winifred is grinning. That came from one of Monroe’s heroes. “One of my favourite actors is Jack Nicholson. I think every project he does he’s fascinating,” Monroe says. “Of course in ‘The Shining,’ he’s pretty much smiling through the whole thing, through all the pain and the anguish. That was a huge influence.”Monroe is also a professed fan of Olivia Colman’s. And it’s easy to see how wildly mischievous characters, like those often played by Colman or Nicholson, might be even more in Monroe’s wheelhouse than horror. It’s enough to make you wonder: does she ever chafe at the term “Scream Queen?”Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081293.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081293.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/maika-monroe-much-more-than-scream-queen-returns-to-cannes]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 09:17:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Bassam Freiha Art Foundation expands its cultural mission with new initiatives]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/bassam-freiha-art-foundation-expands-its-cultural-mission-with-new-initiatives]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Bassam Said Freiha, Founder of Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF), the only private art foundation on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island Cultural District, has announced a series of new philanthropic and educational initiatives, as the Foundation marks its second anniversary. “This reinforces our long-term commitment to arts and culture, and the development of creative talent in the UAE,” says the Foundation. Its spaces are free and open for everyone, focused on showcasing global, regional and local art collections.The current initiatives include a scholarship supporting Emirati artist Noor Al Suwaidi’s MFA studies, a student-led exhibition developed in collaboration with Zayed University that will provide real-world experience and nurture the next generation of artists and art professionals, and an ongoing partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), introducing students to careers in the creative industries.The scholarship will enable Noor Al Suwaidi to further develop her practice and contribute to the development of contemporary Emirati art. Al Suwaidi brings to her graduate studies a practice already shaped by sustained international exposure: over the past decade, she has completed four residencies across the United States, Europe, and North Africa. BFAF has also expanded its educational partnerships with institutions including Zayed University, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and ADEK, creating opportunities for students to gain access and hands-on experience within the arts sector.In collaboration with the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, Zayed University, the Foundation has developed a year-long programme culminating in Seeing Ourselves, a student-led exhibition (June 11 – Aug. 31). The initiative began with a residency programme where student artists worked alongside French photographer Philip Ducap to develop works for the exhibition, while they also received training in curatorial practice, graphic design and exhibition design from the Foundation’s team.Seeing Ourselves invites visitors to explore how cultural identity is constructed and reasserted through images made from within. The show was conceived as a direct counterpoint to the Foundation’s permanent Orientalist collection; the exhibition places Emirati students in the position of authorship, producing original photographs of architecture, landscape and portraiture, that reflect their own experience of contemporary UAE.In partnership with ADEK, the Foundation has launched a monthly educational series, introducing high school students to careers within the creative industries. To date, the programme has welcomed more than 170 students from Abu Dhabi Charter Schools, across eight groups. Each session combines lectures and practical workshops led by professionals working across curatorial practice, gallery operations, fine arts, photography and architecture. The programme continues throughout 2026.The Foundation has additionally collaborated with Cranleigh Abu Dhabi on First Impressions, a student-led exhibition presented in April 2025, to mark the opening of BFAF’s Education Gallery. Developed through a series of artist-led workshops, the exhibition encouraged students to explore and experiment with different artistic styles and forms of expression, resulting in a diverse yet personal collection of portraits, studies, and imaginative compositions.Dr. Michaela Watrelot, BFAF Curator and Director of Exhibitions, said that “whether we are working with students at Zayed University or supporting an established artist through graduate study, these commitments reflect BFAF’s and the Founder’s belief in nurturing the next generation of artistic talent and professionals, and in creating the conditions for rigorous, sustained artistic practice.”Alongside its exhibitions, BFAF is continuing to expand its wider cultural and educational programming. Since opening, it has welcomed more than 2,000 participants to its free workshops and lectures. In collaboration with FIA – Institute for Inclusion, the Foundation also launched Family Studio, a monthly programme offering children and adults of determination a dedicated space to engage in creative experiences alongside their families.Bassam Said Freiha said that “my vision was always to create a space where art is genuinely accessible, where language, geography, and cost do not determine who gets to encounter it. These new initiatives are an expression of that same commitment, extended now to the artists and students who will shape what comes next.”Noor Al Suwaidi (b. 1981, Abu Dhabi) is an Emirati artist whose practice moves between portraiture and figurative abstraction. Alongside her artistic practice, she has contributed to the development of the UAE’s contemporary art scene through curatorial work and institutional collaborations. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in London, Berlin, Washington, DC, Kuwait City, and across the UAE. Dr. Michaela Watrelot is a curator, educator and published author. Before joining BFAF, she worked at Christie’s in Vienna and Dubai.Beirut-born Bassam Said Freiha (b.1939) is a philanthropist and collector. His collection focuses on the Orientalist art movement, and includes works by Rudolphe Ernst, Léon Comerre, Paul Leroy, Jan-Baptist Huysmans, Vincent Stiepevich, Georges Washington, Fabio Fabbi, Aloysius O’Kelly, Théodore Frère, Maguelonne Lefebvre-Glaize, and Marie-Antoinette Izart, among others.Beyond his role as a business leader, he has served as a special diplomatic envoy to Lebanese Presidents, since 1978. He is also dedicated to humanitarian efforts, providing longstanding support to The Said and Hassiba Freiha & Sons Foundation for Humanitarian Services, an organisation he established in 1970.Established in 2024 in Saadiyat Cultural District, BFAF was founded as a non-profit cultural institution dedicated to providing public access to private art collections and to encourage the development of artistic talent across the region. It has three main exhibition spaces: the Main Gallery, the Annex Gallery, and the Sculpture Garden. Designed by A.D.D. Consultants, the space draws inspiration from and embodies the artistic vision of Bassam Said Freiha.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081280.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/24/1081280.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/24/bassam-freiha-art-foundation-expands-its-cultural-mission-with-new-initiatives]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 09:02:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Uzbekistan President launches Uzbek Reading Challenge]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/uzbekistan-president-launches-uzbek-reading-challenge]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has launched the Uzbek Reading Challenge, a national initiative aimed at fostering a culture of reading and knowledge among the young generation. The initiative falls under strategic partnership initiatives with the UAE in areas of knowledge exchange and government modernisation.The launch of this initiative is the result of cooperation between the Government Experience Exchange Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). It aims to transfer successful experiences and exchange knowledge and expertise with governments worldwide, contributing to the development of government work, capacity building, and human empowerment.The Uzbek Reading Challenge is an extension of the Arab Reading Challenge, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in 2015, as the world’s largest reading and literacy project. It further highlights the Arab Reading Challenge’s leading status, and its role in sparking a global reading movement.President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated, "We have accumulated considerable experience in organising such initiatives, having carefully studied the world's best practices in this field. Foremost among these pioneering models is the UAE’s experience, which has become a global benchmark for fostering a culture of reading."In 2015, under the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Arab Reading Challenge was launched. Today, it stands as one of the largest knowledge and cultural initiatives in the world, having successfully reached more than 200 million students worldwide in just ten years.”He added, "Driven by the deep-rooted relations and strategic partnership that bind our two nations, we have decided to draw upon this inspiring model, alongside our own rich spiritual and cultural heritage, to further advance our efforts in this field. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of the UAE and to Mohammad Al Gergawi.”'Strategic investment'Mirziyoyev concluded, "I view this programme not merely as a reading competition, but as a strategic investment in the future of our nation. If we place a good book in the hands of a child today, they will build a great future for the New Uzbekistan tomorrow. For this reason, I call upon all of you to actively participate in this nation-wide movement.”Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), emphasised that the UAE remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan, guided by the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Al Gergawi noted that this partnership focuses on sharing the UAE’s successful government model and expertise to support Uzbekistan in launching and implementing landmark knowledge and cultural initiatives.Al Gergawi stated, "President Mirziyoyev’s launch of the Uzbek Reading Challenge as an extension of the Arab Reading Challenge reflects our nations’ profound partnership and shared vision for advancing societies through culture. It highlights the importance of fostering a generation of conscious readers capable of driving major transformations that will shape their countries’ present and future.”Drawing inspiration from the Arab Reading Challenge’s success in revitalising the cultural landscape, instilling reading as a lifelong habit, and deepening the youth's connection to their heritage, the Uzbek edition is a product of the close cooperation between MBRGI and the Uzbek Ministry of Education.This partnership reflects a shared commitment to student empowerment, providing the necessary tools for intellectual competition to help the next generation realise their potential and contribute to a knowledge-based future.The Uzbek Reading Challenge celebrates the nation’s legacy as a historic centre of Islamic knowledge and the birthplace of legendary scholars who shaped various branches of human knowledge, like Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, and Al-Khwarizmi.By drawing on the heritage of Silk Road beacons like Samarkand and Bukhara, the initiative aims to revive Uzbekistan's historical bond with learning. It seeks to nurture a conscious, empowered generation capable of driving national development and shaping a prosperous future.Over the past few years, the UAE-Uzbekistan strategic partnership in government experience exchange has emerged as a premier model for international cooperation.This collaboration spans dozens of joint projects in government performance, capacity building, excellence, services, innovation, leadership development, and designing national initiatives.The impact of this strategic partnership is reflected in its significant reach: 2.8 million individuals in Uzbekistan have been trained through more than 380 workshops, totalling nearly 16.7 million training hours that focused on key areas.Hundreds of experts and officials conducted workshops, field visits and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening cooperation, accelerating the exchange of expertise and translating knowledge into projects that deliver a tangible impact in the community.WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1081081.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1081081.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/uzbekistan-president-launches-uzbek-reading-challenge]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:20:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Ricky Martin safe after chaos caused by tear gas in concert]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/ricky-martin-safe-after-chaos-caused-by-tear-gas-in-concert]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Puerto Rican singing sensation Ricky Martin is "safe" after a fan disrupted his show with tear gas in Europe.Martin’s publicist, Rondine Alcala, shared in a statement in Spanish and English that the singer was kicking off the European leg of his Ricky Martin Live tour in Montenegro when "an individual discharged tear gas toward the stage,” reports people.com.Alcala said this caused an "abrupt interruption of the show as audience members moved away from the area and received assistance."According to the publicist, the 54-year-old singer and his team immediately exited the stage as a "precautionary measure" while "security personnel and local authorities worked to contain the situation and ensure the safety of those in attendance."While members of Martin's team advised against continuing the performance, Alcala said that the superstar decided to resume the concert "in order to fulfill his commitment to fans."By that point, authorities had confirmed that "the situation was under control and that attendees could safely return," according to Alcala.The representative also confirmed that the Ricky Martin Live tour will continue as scheduled with upcoming performances across Europe and additional international dates."Ricky Martin and his team are safe and grateful for the support and concern received following tonight’s events in Montenegro," his publicist wrote.Known for his musical versatility, Martin began appearing in television commercials at age nine and began his musical career at twelve, as a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo.Martin is one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time, having sold over 70 million records worldwide.He has won 11 Billboard Hot Latin Songs number-one songs, and won two Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammy Awards, six MTV Video Music Awards, two American Music Awards, three Latin American Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, eight World Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.IANS]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080992.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080992.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/ricky-martin-safe-after-chaos-caused-by-tear-gas-in-concert]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 09:12:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Penelope Cruz recalls brain aneurysm scare]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/penelope-cruz-recalls-brain-aneurysm-scare]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz said she "thought she was about to die" after she suffered a worrying brain aneurysm scare during production on her latest movie, "The Black Ball”.The 52-year-old actress has revealed that she "thought she was about to die" after being informed of the health concern the evening before her night-shoot sequences on the drama film were due to begin.Speaking at a press conference for The Black Ball at the Cannes Film Festival, Penelope said: "When we were about to go out, I was putting on my wig, and they said, 'Oh, apparently you have some brain aneurysm.' I thought I was about to die. This is something that was totally surreal in my life."The Oscar-winning actress explained that she thought it was a "joke" at first but revealed that doctors gave her the all-clear to begin shooting the next day, reports femalefirst.co.uk.Thanking her colleagues on the movie for their support, Penelope said: "The shooting was not going to stop. And for me, talking about these things is very important.”"It's important to share information about where such characters take you - you experience these things together, yet despite all this, despite the hardship, you can move forward in life, and I think they're the only people who knew all these details and they provided such incredible support."The actress plays cabaret singer Nene in the movie from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, and was attracted to star in the film because of the script, even though her character has minimal screen time in the movie."I don’t base my decision on the number of minutes my character is in the script. I want to be part of things that are important, that speak to me. When I read this script, I discovered this fantastic story and I felt it would be wonderful to be part of something that’s even more important than just one more film," she said.She said: "I have a very strong reaction towards anything that doesn’t seem fair. So when I see people struggling and fighting for rights that should never be questionable, that creates a very, very strong reaction in me that I need to put somewhere. And fortunately, I’ve been able to put it in the films that I do through my characters."IANS]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080990.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080990.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/penelope-cruz-recalls-brain-aneurysm-scare]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 09:08:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[When cinema Erases  geographical divides]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/when-cinema-erases-geographical-divides]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[
                            
                                
                                    
                                    
                                        Among the films that have been unveiled at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the works of several celebrated directors have done their bit to shrink the world, erase geographical divides and enhance our understanding of culture and existence, feels Saibal Chatterjee
                                    
                                
                                
                                    
                                        Share
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                            
                        Cinema has the power to break boundaries. That is especially the case especially when filmmakers decide to step away from their home turfs and opt to tell tales from afar. Among the films that have been unveiled at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the works of several celebrated directors have done their bit to shrink the world, erase geographical divides and enhance our understanding of culture and existence.In her fourth feature film made in a span of 25 years, The Dreamed Adventure, the slow and steady Bremen-born German director Valeska Grisebach returns to roughly the same region where her previous critically acclaimed film, Western (2017), was set – the border area between Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece.While Western (which was a part of Cannes’ Un certain regard section) hinged on a German construction worker in Bulgaria caught in a culture clash with the locals, The Dreamed Adventure, in Cannes’ main Competition section, revolves around Veska, an archaeologist who runs into an old acquaintance, Said, in the Bulgarian town of Svilengrad, where she is on an assignment as an archaelogist.Said’s car, an old Passat, is stolen. Veska offers to drive him around even as she oversees the excavation at a site on the edge of town. In the process, she is sucked into a world of murky deals.As layers of criminality and acts of greed begin to reveal themselves, figures from Veska’s own past catch up with her. In a place toxically swarming with smugglers and traffickers who are out for their pound of flesh, the woman must keep her wits about her in order to stay afloat.The Dreamed Adventure digs deep into the milieu using purely naturalistic narrative methods. It delivers a vivid portrait that is marked by a keen sense of time and place, a work of extraordinary depth. Asghar Farhadi’s new film, Parallel Tales, is his third film set outside his native Iran and the second located in France after The Past (2013). Starring French stars Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney and Adam Bessa, Parallel Tales explores the constant overlapping of a writer’s imagination with the reality from which she draws inspiration.Inspired in part by the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski Dekalog: Six, the crisscrossing narratives in the film pan out entirely in Paris. A famous author intrudes into the lives of her neighbours across the street in search of characters and situations. But when she hires a mysterious young man as a helping hand, her plans go topsy-turvy.Not one of Farhadi’s strongest films, Parallel Tales has elements that are intriguing enough to keep the audience invested in what unfolds on the screen. That is precisely what Romanian director Cristian Mungiu and Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, have delivered with their latest films, both filmed outside their own countries.Mungiu, who won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, filmed Fjord completely outside Romania. Revolving around an orthodox Catholic Romanian-Norwegian couple who relocate to the wife’s hometown in Norway, the film probes questions of parenting and punishment of children in the complex context of Norway’s child protection laws.Fjord stars Romanian-American actor Sebastian Stan and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve as the couple who fall foul of a system that does not tolerate any sort of physical disciplining of children. It has the look and feel of a legal drama, but it also raises open-ended questions on ethics and family dynamics.Hamaguchi, whose 2021 drama Drive My Car won the Best International Feature Film Oscar as well as the Best Screenplay prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has filmed large portions of his latest Cannes Competition entry, All of a Sudden, in and around a nursing home in Paris for elderly people with cognitive disorders.The film has Virginie Efira in the role of Marie-Lou, the director of the nursing home in the suburbs of Paris where she seeks to introduce a new approach to caregiving despite some resistance from the facility’s top management and a few of the nurses.Japanese actress and model Tao Okamoto plays a young terminally ill theatre director whose arrival at the hospital triggers a deep and illuminating discourse about life, humanity and capitalism between the two women.One of the strongest titles in the Cannes 2026 lineup, All of a Sudden is a life-affirming film that looks for rays of hope and positivity in a dying, diseased world where it might be all too easy to sink into pessimism. Articulated through the words of one character in the film, the screenplay advocates that the vital force within us be harnessed not merely to struggle but to live fully.Greek director Konstantina Kotzamani has delivered one of the more unusual films at this year’s Cannes – the Japan-set Titanic Ocean. A multi-nation international co-production, the film homes in on a group of teenage girls who enrol at a Japanese boarding school, where they are trained to be professional mermaids.The training module and what follows in its wake leads to a teenage girl to greater awareness of the complexities of life and her own true self. It is when one journeys beyond what is plausible, the discoveries can be startling and life-altering. From the standpoint of each of the five filmmakers featured here, departures from norm have not only yielded cinematic rewards, they have also pushed the boundaries of possibilities.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080986.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080986.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Saibal Chatterjee]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/when-cinema-erases-geographical-divides]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 09:00:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Multidisciplinary artist Mahsa Shadras blends global influences with native roots]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/multidisciplinary-artist-mahsa-shadras-blends-global-influences-with-native-roots]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Mahsa Shadras is an architect, jewellery designer and calligraphy painter, with over 15 years of work in the field. Born in 1983 in Tehran, she currently lives and works in Dubai. She did her PhD in Architecture in the European Graduate School in Switzerland, and after working as an architect and jewellery designer and establishing her own jewellery brand called Shadras Jewellery, she decide to revive her childhood passion, which was painting, especially by creating a new style. “My calligraphy painting is a spiritual process for me and I am inspired by Iranian and Islamic architecture,” Mahsa says. “I like to combine cultures and motives along with the poems of famous Iranian poets like Rumi and Hafez in a modern way, in acrylic on canvas.”“My journey as an artist,” she continues, “is rooted in exploring the beauty of forms, colours and letters, merging traditional techniques with personal narratives. As an architect, jewellery designer and calligraphy artist, I bridge disciplines, bringing together different structures in one, single creativity. Art is an extension of myself — a space to explore, innovate, and connect with others on a deeply emotional level.” Mahsa Shadras speaks to Gulf TodayHow are architecture, jewellery designing and painting related to calligraphy?Architecture, jewellery design and painting, all share a deep connection with calligraphy through their emphasis on form, composition, and the expressive power of lines. Both architecture and calligraphy rely on proportion, rhythm, and balance. Jewellery, like calligraphy, transforms lines into art. Across these fields, calligraphy serves as a bridge between function and aesthetics, tradition and innovation, and is a fundamental part of my creative process.How does the poetry of Rumi and Hafez inspire your calligraphy?Their verses are more than words; they are spiritual journeys. Rumi speaks of divine love, unity, and the soul’s longing, while Hafez explores beauty, mysticism, and the depth of the human heart. When I create calligraphy, I don’t just write their poems — I feel them. Each stroke becomes a form of meditation, a way of connecting with something bigger than myself.What are the emotions, stories and philosophies behind your calligraphy?I draw deep inspiration from the rich heritage of Iranian culture, Islamic motifs, and traditional architecture. I combine their traditional forms with a modern aesthetic, allowing the flow of letters to follow my feelings, transforming the canvas into a personal narrative.How has living and studying in Europe influenced your art?Living and studying in Europe exposed me to a diverse range of artistic styles, philosophies and cultural expressions. The contrast between European minimalism and the ornate richness of Middle Eastern art, gave me the confidence to blend different aesthetics. My time in Europe allowed me to experiment more boldly with form, scale, and composition — leading to a more contemporary and expressive approach in my calligraphy.How have Iran and the UAE impacted your art?The beauty of Persian culture — especially classical literature, intricate motifs, and traditional forms of expression — flows through every piece I create. The UAE, on the other hand, has offered me a dynamic space to grow, explore, and express that heritage on an international platform. What makes it even more meaningful is how culturally connected we are — Arabic and Farsi share the same alphabet, and both cultures are deeply rooted in Islamic art and architecture. These shared foundations create a natural harmony in my work, allowing me to blend elements from both traditions, while embracing a contemporary style. My openness to new ideas here has encouraged me to push boundaries and present my calligraphy in a more modern, expressive way. It’s in the UAE that I’ve had the opportunity to bring my cultural story to a broader, international audience — and that has been truly empowering.What is the feedback to your art?Many viewers express a deep emotional connection to my work — even if they don’t read Farsi or Arabic. That’s something very special for me, because it shows how the visual language of calligraphy can speak across cultures. It touches me most is when someone sees a reflection of their own story or emotion in my work. The fusion of traditional calligraphy with a modern artistic approach resonates with a wide audience; collectors and art lovers are drawn to the symbolism, the flow of the letters and the stories woven into each canvas.You have also blended pop art and calligraphy. What made you do this?Blending pop art with calligraphy was a natural evolution for me — a way to bridge classical beauty with modern storytelling. Pop art, with its bold colours and contemporary figures, offered a fresh canvas to experiment on. The idea came from wanting to connect with a younger, more global audience, while staying true to my cultural roots. I love the tension between the expressive lines of calligraphy and the often playful imagery of pop art. It opens up new conversations — between East and West, tradition and innovation, word and image.Why do you like to use gold in your work?Gold, for me, is more than just a colour — it’s a symbol of timelessness, value, and inner light. I use it to highlight the emotional depth and spiritual essence behind the words and forms in my calligraphy. Gold also reflects light in a special way — it changes with the environment and the viewer’s perspective, much like the meaning of calligraphy itself, which is fluid, layered, and open to interpretation.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080976.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/23/1080976.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/23/multidisciplinary-artist-mahsa-shadras-blends-global-influences-with-native-roots]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:56:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sheikh Mohammed issues law on antiquities, archaeological sites in Dubai]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/22/sheikh-mohammed-issues-law-on-antiquities-archaeological-sites-in-dubai]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, issued Law No. 11 of 2026 on antiquities and archaeological sites in the Emirate of Dubai.The Law applies to existing and newly discovered archaeological sites and artefacts across all land, marine, and mountainous areas of Dubai, including special development zones and free zones, among them the Dubai International Financial Centre.The Law aims to identify, register, classify, and preserve Dubai’s antiquities and archaeological sites, recognising them as key national assets of the emirate.It also aims to raise awareness of Dubai’s archaeological sites and their historical, cultural, and architectural significance, while strengthening their protection and supporting the regulation of archaeological activities across the emirate.According to the Law, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is designated as the entity responsible for overseeing antiquities and archaeological sites in the emirate.Under the Law, antiquities and archaeological sites in Dubai are deemed the property of the emirate, except for privately owned movable or immovable artefacts and sites proven through possession, official documentation, or registration in the official register.The Law states that land ownership does not include rights over any antiquities found on or beneath it, nor does it authorise excavation or related works. Artefacts owned by the emirate of Dubai cannot be gifted except by approval of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and may only be temporarily moved abroad for exhibition, restoration, or study with its permission.Under the Law, artefacts owned by the emirate of Dubai may be loaned to official, scientific, or museum institutions inside or outside the country by decision of the Director-General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The executive regulations of this Law set the criteria for gifting, temporary export, or loan of such artefacts, as well as the rules governing privately owned artefacts taken outside the emirate.The emirate also reserves all intellectual property rights over images, models, reports, and replicas of its artefacts, including those produced by authorised entities.The Law requires anyone who discovers an artefact that meets the legal definition of an antiquity, whether intentionally or by chance, to leave it undisturbed and immediately stop any work, including construction, that could affect it or any surrounding remains. This includes areas considered natural, environmental, aesthetic, visual, or legal extensions of the site, which form an integral part of it and are defined and mapped by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in coordination with the relevant authorities.The finder must also notify Dubai Culture or Dubai Police within 48 hours of the discovery.Furthermore, the Law also requires anyone who accidentally finds an item in marine zones of the Emirate of Dubai that meets the legal definition of an antiquity to immediately report it to the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and hand it over within 7 days of discovery.Subject to the rights of bona fide third parties, an artefact found by chance becomes property of the Emirate of Dubai if its owner is not identified within five years of discovery. The Authority shall take the necessary steps to trace the owner, preserve the artefact, and register it under this Law.The Law establishes a dedicated register at the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for all antiquities and archaeological sites, including privately owned ones that meet the legal criteria. It recognises existing registered sites as compliant under this law and requires owners of eligible private artefacts or sites to apply for inspection and registration.It also defines classification criteria, sets owners’ obligations, regulates conservation and restoration, governs the entry of foreign artefacts into Dubai, and specifies administrative penalties for violations.The Law prohibits damaging, altering, relocating, or defacing any antiquity or archaeological site, including its surroundings, and bans dumping waste or placing signs except for approved guidance. It also prohibits entering closed sites without approval from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, or using sites and surrounding areas for activities that might be damaging in any way, such as dumping, storage, quarrying, or industrial, military, or hazardous uses.Any excavation, construction, landscaping, or similar work requires approval from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in coordination with relevant authorities.The Law also requires prior approval from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for exhibitions, auctions, and online trading of antiquities, as well as for importing artefacts without proof of lawful ownership and for the temporary or permanent export of artefacts for display, restoration, or analysis.Under the Law, no person may carry out archaeological activities in Dubai without a permit from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.The Executive Council of Dubai issues the decision regulating such activities, including the conditions and procedures for obtaining permits and the rights of licensed entities.The Law requires any person or entity to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority before undertaking major projects within areas that may actually or potentially hold archaeological sites. The Authority issues the certificate after confirming the area is devoid of antiquities, and in coordination with relevant entities in Dubai, determines which major projects require such approval.All persons and entities subject to this Law must comply with its provisions within one year from its effective date. The Director-General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority may extend this window for a similar period if necessary.Any provisions or legislation that conflict with this Law stand annulled. This Law is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/22/1080948.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/22/1080948.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/22/sheikh-mohammed-issues-law-on-antiquities-archaeological-sites-in-dubai]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 22:57:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Pakistani actress Mamya details alleged workplace harassment]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/22/pakistani-actress-mamya-details-alleged-workplace-harassment]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Pakistani actress Mamya Shajaffar has detailed her workplace harassment and spoken about her mental health struggles, including living with lupus and identity challenges.Shajaffar appeared on Iffat Omar's podcast, where she spoke about her personal struggles with self-identity, health challenges, and allegations of workplace harassment in the entertainment industry.The interview appeared to have been taken down later for unexplained reasons.During the conversation, Shajaffar described what she called her worst acting experience in Pakistan, alleging uncomfortable behaviour from fellow actor Arsalan Khan. She said the experience left her feeling pressured and disrespected in professional settings."There was this guy, like every other thirsty man in our country, who saw my profile and assumed I would be fine with being touchy-feely or overly friendly," she said.Shajaffar clarified that she is not comfortable with physical contact, adding, "I am not a touchy-feely person. It takes someone becoming a close friend for me to even give a hug; otherwise, I prefer just a handshake. I don't have any shame in naming him. I think his name was Arsalan Khan, and he started making me feel uncomfortable."Commenting on his professionalism, she said that he is absolutely a nobody. "I wouldn't even call him an actor. He could barely pronounce words properly. Yet he started lecturing me about acting while not doing the job himself.”She alleged that the situation escalated to the point where a director had to intervene and instruct both parties to focus on work. She further claimed that despite her discomfort, the actor continued attempting to initiate physical contact."When he realised I wasn't overly friendly and only communicated through work, I think he got intimidated," she said. "Maybe he was insecure. I was very confused."She also described another heated on-set exchange during a discussion about writer Manto, where she said the actor disagreed with her interpretation and the argument escalated. "He stood up and started shaking his belt as if he wanted to take it off and hit me. He then started calling me names on set," she alleged.Shajaffar claimed that he repeatedly attempted to hug her despite her refusal."He said, 'Come give me a hug,' but I kept saying please don't touch me. I had to repeat it multiple times before I eventually shouted."She also alleged that he made inappropriate comments about her appearance, which added to her discomfort during shoots.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/22/1080796.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/22/1080796.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/22/pakistani-actress-mamya-details-alleged-workplace-harassment]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 18:20:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Harry Styles returns with a bang]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/harry-styles-returns-with-a-bang]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Harry Styles is back with a massive comeback for 2026 as he has opened his “Together, Together Tour” with loud cheers from his American girl, actress Zoe Kravitz.Harry Styles, English singer, songwriter, and actor, prepares to start his “Together, Together Tour” and he dropped a new music video for his Kiss All the Time.In an interview Styles said, “My friend Chloe said that,” he recalled. “She’d been dancing with us, and it was a group of friends who usually are watching her play….We were like, ‘Oh, it’s so nice. So nice to have you like down with us.’ And she was like, ‘I know DJs don’t dance anymore. It’s crazy.’”During the former One Direction member's first show at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff Arena, his fiancee, Zoe Kravitz, danced in the audience alongside Styles' longtime friend James Corden, as seen in videos shared on social media, reports 'People' magazine.As the duo looked up at the stage from the VIP section, Kravitz, 37, clapped and danced while sporting a black coat, dark sunglasses and a black baseball cap.As per 'People', in addition to her cameo at his concert, some fans suspect that Styles, 32, may have included Kravitz's voice in his show.During the intro to his opening song, 'Golden', a woman's voice could be heard saying, "Harry, are you coming out tonight?" While some social media users insist that the recording features Kravitz's voice, others believe it may be the voice of Styles' friend Carla, who inspired the album's final track, 'Carla's Song'.Last month, a source confirmed that the singer and the actress had gotten engaged after the Caught Stealing actress was spotted wearing a massive ring on her left hand."It appears to be very similar in size to the ring she previously wore from Channing Tatum (the now-exes were briefly engaged before splitting in October 2024), but with a slightly softer and less elongated shape", Laura Taylor, who specializes in engagement and wedding rings, shared in a press release. "Zoe knows exactly what diamond proportions she loves on her hand".Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz were first linked in August 2025 when they were spotted walking arm in arm in Rome. The next day, Deuxmoi reported that the pair had been kissing at Rita's in London the week prior.At the time, a source said that the singer was "spending time with Kravitz while she was on her (Caught Stealing) press run".While the stars have since been spotted together multiple times in London and New York City, a source said in December 2025 that the actress had joined Harry several times during the "long stretches of time" he spent in Rome, Italy.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080448.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080448.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/harry-styles-returns-with-a-bang]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 09:07:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Hamaguchi’s ‘All Of A Sudden’ earns longest ovation at Cannes]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/hamaguchis-all-of-a-sudden-earns-longest-ovation-at-cannes]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Cannes Film Festival is not a place that’s conducive to taking your time. Festivalgoers rush frantically between screenings. The protocol department enforces precisely timed red carpet premieres. Standing ovations are clocked. But one of the most lauded films of this year’s Cannes is a patiently plotted, sensitively told three-hour drama about giving people the time they deserve. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden” has been one of the most widely acknowledged knockouts of the festival — in part because of how much it cultivates and nurtures its own gentle rhythm. For anyone who feels life may be moving too fast, the ironically titled “All of a Sudden” may be welcome recalibration.“I face the same issues,” Hamaguchi, the Japanese filmmaker, said in an interview. “Just living and working in a society like the one we live in today, we all feel this. It’s about not having the time and the availability to give our interest to others. To find that time, we have to be conscious about it.”Hamaguchi spoke over coffee on a quiet morning in Cannes. His manner is humble and reflective, but he also has a steely determination. You would have to make such sprawling humane movies that defy convention. His three-hour 2021 opus, “Drive My Car,” tenderly accrued such power that it became an international sensation, landing four Oscar nominations and becoming the first Japanese film ever nominated for best picture.In “All of a Sudden,” which Neon will release in the U.S. later this year, Hamaguchi’s story could be a metaphor for his own quietly radical cinema.Virginie Efira plays Marie-Lou Fontaine, who leads a Paris elderly care facility that’s trying to instruct its workers in Humanitude, a program emphasizing personal, compassionate care for residents. It prioritizes things like looking residents in the eye and, yes, spending more time with them.But not everyone is on board. There are realities to deal with for the hard-working staff that can make the Humanitude methods more idealistic than practical. Through a random encounter, Marie-Lou meets a theater director, Marie Morisaki (Tao Okamoto) whose moving play includes a role for a young man with a developmental disability (Kodai Kurosaki).When Marie-Lou and Marie meet, their connection is immediately deep and their conversation continues not just into the night but into the following day. Their evolving relationship and the changing atmosphere of the facility gracefully move “All of a Sudden” toward something hopeful and profound about the possibility of real connection. “My own values and thoughts around filmmaking come into the film,” grants Hamaguchi. “I first learned about Humanitude in a different context and I decided to work within the field of caregiving. But when I started to research about it, I realized there were so many shared issues in common with the film industry.”While Hamaguchi is a well-travelled movie watcher — in conversation, he praised John Cassavetes and the Nicholas Ray Western “Johnny Guitar” — he’s resistant to some of the plot mechanics that tend to reflexively dictate many mainstream movies. “I rely very much on my discomfort,” explains Hamaguchi. “Storytelling as an action, you’re sort of forcing certain things to happen to make an interesting film. Oftentimes, when I watch other films, they say this is how it is and continue to push the plot forward. I find that to be uncomfortable.”Just as abuse might occur at an elderly care facility, Hamaguchi notes young film crew members might be treated harshly. He strives for an approach to moviemaking closer to the Humanitude ethos. “There are so many parts of the film industry where the system is built in a way that doesn’t treat actors as people,” he says. “They’re seen as people who prepare their emotions and then bring that emotion to the set. What I want to record is not the prepared emotions but the emotions that arise out of reacting with each other. For that to happen, it’s important to have time.”Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080447.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080447.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/hamaguchis-all-of-a-sudden-earns-longest-ovation-at-cannes]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 08:50:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sebastian Stan ‘rebonds’ with his Romanian past in family drama ‘Fjord’]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/sebastian-stan-rebonds-with-his-romanian-past-in-family-drama-fjord]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[For Romanian-born US actor Sebastian Stan, the Cannes Film Festival drama “Fjord”, centred around the clash of values that ensues when a religious family relocates from Romania to a Norwegian village, has allowed him to reconnect with his roots. “I left in a very chaotic way, and I’ve really tried to educate myself about the country,” Stan told journalists on Tuesday, a day after the premiere of the film that he said had provided the chance “to rebond” with the country of his birth.Stan left Romania with his mother when he was about 8 years old and the vast majority of the country’s population was suffering economic hardship and political repression under communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, who won the festival’s top prize in 2007 with “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”, said that he had started writing the script, inspired by true stories, only after Stan had agreed to take on one of the leading roles.Stan, who made his name in the Captain America trilogy, stars as a Romanian IT technician who decides to move his family of seven to the Norwegian village where his wife, played by “Sentimental Value” standout Renate Reinsve, was born. Cultural differences on child-rearing take an extreme turn when child protection services become involved, and the divisions reflect a bigger battle between conservative and progressive values.Reinsve, who previously co-starred with Stan in 2024’s “A Different Man”, recalled that it was difficult and humbling to play a role so different from her own life. “It was very scary to go into playing someone who was doing something wrong and was violent without knowing it,” said the Norwegian actor. “Fjord” is one of 22 films competing for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, which will be handed out on May 23.During the press conference, Stan was also asked how his understanding of US President Donald Trump had changed since he starred as the real estate mogul in the biopic “The Apprentice”. The film was in competition at Cannes in 2024, when Trump had begun campaigning for the second term he began in 2025. In response Stan recalled that the film had faced the same threats as late show hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert have experienced in Trump’s second presidential term. “We’re in a really, really bad place,” he added.Meanwhile, Cuban-born Hollywood actor Andy Garcia’s passion project, “Diamond,” screened at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, some two decades after the “Ocean’s Eleven” star first conceived the idea while helping his daughter with a school assignment. Garcia directed and stars in the noir-inspired film that follows private detective Joe Diamond, who is hired by femme fatale widow Sharon Cobbs, played by Vicky Krieps, to investigate the murder of a wealthy businessman. US actors Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman also have roles as side characters.When the 70-year-old who also wrote and produced the film learned it was going to screen out of competition at the festival, he said he could not have been happier. Saying the film was like his child, Garcia told Reuters: “It’s the greatest gift in the world to celebrate your child’s achievement.” Known for roles in films such as “The Godfather: Part III” and “When a Man Loves a Woman,” the Oscar-nominated actor has built a decades-long career in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. “Diamond” is his second fictional feature as a director after 2005’s “The Lost City,” a movie about pre-communist Cuba that also took years to bring to the screen and features Murray and Hoffman. Although “Diamond” is set in modern-day Los Angeles, the detective and others around him are dressed as if they are in the past. The concept traces back 20 years to when Garcia helped his daughter with a homework assignment for which she had to write a noir short story, and she got stuck.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080444.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080444.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/sebastian-stan-rebonds-with-his-romanian-past-in-family-drama-fjord]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 08:46:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Art Dubai’s 20th anniversary Special Edition closes with record attendance]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/art-dubais-20th-anniversary-special-edition-closes-with-record-attendance]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Art Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, closed its 20th anniversary Special Edition on May 17, to record public attendance and deserved acclaim that it carried the art flag high, even during difficult times. Strong sales were reported across all four days of the event, which was attended by members of the royal family, leading international, regional and local museums, institutions and private collectors based in Dubai and around the world.Taking place May 14-17 at Madinat Jumeirah, the Special Edition celebrated and honoured the artists, galleries and institutions whose voices, ideas and practices have been central to the two decades of unprecedented growth in the UAE’s creative industries. Attracting over 25,000 visitors - a record for the public days - the event was hailed for spotlighting and celebrating a new generation of UAE-based creatives.Institutional presence at the fair was drawn from more than 20 countries including Netherlands, UK, USA, Egypt, UAE, KSA, Angola, Lebanon, Germany, South Africa and South Korea, including Zeitz MOCAA (Cape Town, South Africa), Busan Museum of Art (South Korea), and MoMA (New York, USA). Significant local and international collectors attending included Reem Al Roubi, Mo Afkhami, Elie Khouri, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, Rajib Sambdani and Omar Al Gurg, besides others. Initiatives announced at Art Dubai included announcement of new Dubai Museum of Digital Art, scheduled to open in 2029, and an open call for major new sculpture commission announced by A.R.M. Holding. Tomas Daukša was announced as the latest artist to lead A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme, launching in UAE schools in September 2026.Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director, Art Dubai Group, said that “this week has exceeded all expectations - the community came out in force in celebration of this city’s incredible diversity and creativity, demonstrating the role that culture can play in bringing people together.” Participating galleries noted the depth of local collecting and the support of the local scene for art. Franco Noero, Founder of Turin-based Franco Noero Gallery said that “from the first time we showed at Art Dubai in 2014, we found the region to be full of wonderful artists and people and it is clear that this is a place that rewards investment. We came back in a difficult moment, and have had an amazing experience - the level of sophistication of our clients here is hard to beat.”Taymour Grahne, who opened his eponymous gallery in Dubai in 2025, said that “Art Dubai for me this year was magic. We were thrilled to present a solo booth by Emirati artist Roudhah Al Marzouei and we sold out our booth within the first couple of hours of the fair. It was lovely to see old faces and we sold works to collectors from across the world - all of whom are based in Dubai - including Emiratis, Saudis, Lebanese, Americans, French, and Canadians, among others. Galleries brought their A-game, and Dubai really showed its amazing energy this week.” Maliha Tabari, Founder of Tabari Artspace said that “the fair has been central to our ecosystem since the early days, bringing MENA art into conversation with global audiences. Sales surpassed our expectations, but what struck us most was the depth of engagement, the attention with which our collectors, curators and visitors approached the work.”Mohammed Hafiz, Co-Founder, ATHR Gallery, said that “Art Dubai and ATHR grew up together. What started as a shared experiment to build a regional ecosystem has become a global platform. This Special Edition makes one thing clear: the region is not at the periphery of the conversation. It is at its centre.” Founded in 2007, Art Dubai is the pre-eminent art fair of the Middle East, recognised for its encouragement of discovery, dialogue facilitation and a focus on contemporary, modern, and digital practices. Alongside a gallery programme, Art Dubai supports artist commissions, education and public programming, helping to develop the region’s cultural infrastructure and talent through sustainable, long-term models.Art Dubai operates through two pillars: Art Dubai Fair and Art Dubai Projects. Art Dubai Projects is the organisation’s year-round cultural platform. Operating across public and private sectors, it brings curatorial leadership and long-term vision to initiatives that strengthen creative infrastructure across the UAE and internationally. From public art, collections and commissioning to institutional development, digital platforms and cross-disciplinary programmes, it works with partners to deliver public impact and sustained growth for artists and audiences.Art Dubai Group is a commercial public/private partnership, also established in 2007. The company owns and delivers the Middle East’s leading creative fairs and festivals, convening audiences from across the globe. The group now comprises over 30 initiatives. They include Art Dubai, Dubai Design Week, the region’s largest creative festival and Prototypes for Humanity. The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is the strategic partner of Art Dubai. Art Dubai is presented in partnership with A.R.M. Holding. Culturally driven lifestyle developer HUNA is a partner of Art Dubai. Madinat Jumeirah is the home of Art Dubai. Art Dubai Special Edition was inaugurated by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), and closed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The next edition of Art Dubai takes place at Madinat Jumeirah on April 7 – 11, 2027.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080436.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/21/1080436.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/21/art-dubais-20th-anniversary-special-edition-closes-with-record-attendance]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 08:42:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[TV star Momina appeals to Punjab CM Maryam for &#039;justice&#039; after receiving death threats]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/tv-star-momina-appeals-to-punjab-cm-maryam-for-justice-after-receiving-death-threats]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Gulf Today Report TV actress Momina Iqbal on Wednesday appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for justice after facing online harassment and receiving death threats, local media reported.Momina took to social media, claiming that she had been facing online harassment, cyberbullying, and death threats for a long time. She alleged that she and her family had endured severe mental stress and trauma due to the individual involved.In a message shared on her Instagram story, Momina, without naming anyone, alleged that a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been issuing threats to her for an extended period. She added that she had repeatedly reported the matter to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no action was taken.“Instead of ensuring justice, attempts have been made to suppress my complaints. Even individuals associated with the office of CM Maryam tried to discourage and silence the matter rather than allowing a fair investigation,” she said.Momina added that as a result of speaking up and seeking legal action, she and her family were facing serious threats to their safety.“I request the concerned authorities to immediately conduct an impartial investigation, provide protection to her family, and take strict legal action against those involved,” she said.Further, Momina warned that if the matter continues to be ignored, she would be compelled to hold a public press conference and “present all available evidence against everyone involved in the harassment, threats, and suppression of my complaints to protect a political figure.”The actor appealed to Maryam, saying she believed the chief minister “will take unbiased and lawful action against anyone found involved in abuse of power or obstruction of justice.”]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080427.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080427.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/tv-star-momina-appeals-to-punjab-cm-maryam-for-justice-after-receiving-death-threats]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:26:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi establishes Sharjah Design Council]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/sheikha-hoor-al-qasimi-establishes-sharjah-design-council]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Head of the Sharjah Creative Quarter (SCQ), has issued an administrative decision establishing the "Sharjah Design Council,” to be followed by the launch and establishment of "Sharjah Design Days,” as a specialised platform bringing together designers, creatives, and specialists from around the world to work on developing the design ecosystem and strengthening its presence regionally and globally.The decision comes in line with the vision of SCQ in supporting creative industries through attracting talents, brands, and modern practices in the field of design.According to the decision, the Sharjah Design Council aims to develop the design ecosystem in the emirate through specialised initiatives and programmes that contribute to building a sustainable creative environment, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading regional hub in the field of design, and establishing and strengthening regional and international partnerships in design-related fields.The council will also work to provide educational and training platforms that support emerging and professional designers while enhancing innovation and creative production in this sector.As part of its responsibilities, the council will formulate and develop strategies and policies related to the design sector; oversee the implementation of programmes and initiatives, organise specialised exhibitions, showcases, and events, and launch economically and environmentally sustainable initiatives in the field of prototype design and manufacturing, further strengthening Sharjah’s position as a leading regional hub for cultural industries.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080306.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080306.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/sheikha-hoor-al-qasimi-establishes-sharjah-design-council]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 20:01:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[&#039;The Four Seasons&#039; star Tina Fey says old friends are gold]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/the-four-seasons-star-tina-fey-says-old-friends-are-gold]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[American actress Tina Fey hopes the latest installment of Netflix comedy "The Four Seasons" will inspire viewers to pick up the phone and check in with old friends."Lifelong friendships are what really hold it together," Fey told AFP at a premier for the new season, which drops on May 28."It's great to be married but you also meet your friends to keep the married people safe," she said from the red carpet at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre."The Four Seasons," which first premiered a year ago, is based on the Alan Alda film of the same name that follows a group of friends as they navigate life's challenges.The new season will take the group -- played by Fey, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Erika Henningsen -- on an adventure through Italy as they deal with the death of their friend Nick (Steve Carell).The group's on-screen connection extends to the real world, cast members said."We are friends in real life as well... I think you feel that, I think it comes off the screen," Kenney-Silver said, adding that "the universal story of friendship" is key to the show's success.While the show sees the friends -- who stay in touch via group chat even when they are not filming -- face the challenges of adulthood, they believe it has the potential to attract a multigenerational audience."We're a bunch of oldies, but everyone gets stressed, everyone suffers loss and gets sad, everyone's happy, everyone has people in their life they love and people who annoy them," Forte said."So, you know, it's all relatable stuff.""Even if you're not the age we are, we're like a museum piece," the actor added. "Check out these old artifacts, learn something."Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080143.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/05/20/1080143.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Culture ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2026/05/20/the-four-seasons-star-tina-fey-says-old-friends-are-gold]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 11:22:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>