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Instagram Surgery

Led by Morvarid Tayyeb (Researcher, The Institute for Emerging Art) and Salma Shaheem (Founder, The Institute for Emerging Art)

All Day

Lobby

One-to-One Sessions

Career Surgery

Led by Jolaine Frizzell (Founder, Ivy Advisory)

All Day

Lobby

One-to-One Sessions

Crit Sessions

Hosted by Art Jameel’s Youth Assembly, led by Andres Ugartechea (The Assembly 25/26)

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Jameel Library

Group Sessions

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi 

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

How to Create a Story When you Haven’t Got an Idea

Hosted by Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, led by Genette Harrison (Associate Programme Leader, Sharjah Performing Arts Academy) and Leanne Rimmer (Lead Tutor)

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sahaab

Workshop

Procrastination and the Uncertainty of Creative Projects

Led by Lisa Ball Lechgar (Arts Management Specialist), Vijaya Chikarmane (Founding Editor, Writing Women), Kath Dizon (Music Artist/Producer/ Halo Halo Experiment), Carlos Paez Gonzales (Interdisciplinary Theater Artist), moderated by Farida El Hady (University Student, The American University of Sharjah)

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Project Space

Talk

CV Reviews

Hosted by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by American University in Dubai 

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Speedy Interviews

Hosted by Vinyl Souk


11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Lobby

One-to-One Sessions

Behind the Scenes Tours

Hosted by Art Jameel, led by Alex Wachira King’ori (Technology Coordinator), Naseef Ismail (Logistics and Administration Coordinator) and Nabeeha Sajjad (Communications Assistant)

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Welcome Desk

Tour

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi (MFA Art and Design)

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Speedy Interviews

Hosted by Bayt Al Mamzar

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Lobby

One-to-One Sessions

Manic Mundane

A hybrid sound performance that moves between electronic composition and acoustic expression.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Chihuahuan Garden

Performance

Creative Problem Solving Under Pressure

Hosted by Karama Arts Club, led by Clare Napper (Founder, Highlife Posters) and David Kirkland (Owner and Creative Director, Knowcreative.com)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Sahaab

Workshop

Crit Sessions

Hosted by Art Jameel’s Youth Assembly, led by Dina Barqawi (The Assembly 25/26)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Jameel Library

Group Sessions

CV Reviews

Hosted by Art Jameel

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Speedy Interviews

Hosted by American University of Sharjah

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

One-to-One Sessions

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by Global Studies University (MA and Ph.D. Programmes)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Visual Dissecting

Led by Rashid Almehiri (Museum Educator, Louvre Abu Dhabi) and Shamma Khoory (Learning and Engagement Assistant, Art Jameel)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Colonnade

Workshop

Rethinking Creative Futures

Hosted by Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, led by Ahmed Emad (Public Programme Specialist), Hessa Alketbi (Public Programme Graduate Trainee) and Wadeema Alhammadi (Associate Registrar)

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Project Space

Town Hall

CV Reviews

Hosted by National Pavilion UAE - La Biennale di Venezia

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Not Sure, But Doing It Anyway: How to make art when you don't know what you want to say

Led by Dinika Govender (Multidisciplinary Artist)

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Sahaab

Workshop

Voices of HIVE: Amplifying Voices in the Creative Ecosystem: Practice, Presentation and Collaboration

Led by Cyrus Zorkot (Head of Creative, THAT Concept Store)

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Socotra Garden

Roundtable Discussions

CV Reviews

Hosted by Art Jameel

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by Gulf Photo Plus (Photography and Media)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Speedy Interviews

Hosted by Abu Dhabi Music and Art Foundation

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Lobby

One-to-One Sessions

Senior Wind Ensemble

Hosted by Centre for Musical Arts

3:30 PM - 4:15 PM

Chihuahuan Garden

Performance

Listening In: The Music Ecosystem in the UAE

Led by Reuben Edenojie (Musician, The Tasty Biscuits), Raghd Coussa (Curator, L316 Records), X Alvarez, (Artist, Co-Founder, WYWY, Halo Halo Experiment), Faizal Razak (Founder and Creative Director, The Karak) moderated by Hasan Hujairi (Music Department Manager, Sharjah Art Foundation, Artist, Composer, Independent Researcher) 

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Project Space

Panel Talk

Foley for Beginners

Led by Joseph Najm (Music Composer)

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sahaab

Workshop

Creative Ego vs Creative Ecosystem: Co-creation and the Sustainability of Literature

Hosted by Emirates Literature Foundation, led by Dania Droubi (Chief Operating Officer)

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

Project Space

Town Hall

Voices of HIVE: Amplifying Regional Voices: Collecting, Curating and Presenting Contemporary Art

Led by Paz Monge (Head of Exhibitions and Curational at Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi & Curational Affairs at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi)

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Socotra Garden

Roundtable Discussions

Crit Sessions

Hosted by Art Jameel’s Youth Assembly, led by Sanjushrree Subash (Peer Curator, The Assembly 25/26)

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Jameel Library

Group Sessions

CV Reviews

Hosted by American University in Dubai

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by Tashkeel (Fine Art)

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

Behind-the-Scenes Collection Tour

Hosted by Art Jameel, led by Ichraq Bouzidi (Collections Manager) and Daniya Jawaad (Collections Assistant)

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM

Welcome Desk

Tour

The Tasty Biscuits with special guest Ananya Murali

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Roof Terrace

Performance

Portfolio Reviews

Hosted by Maraya Art Centre (Fine Art)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Jameel Library

One-to-One Sessions

What Is New

Happening Now

Newsletter

    Uns Kattan

    Deputy Director, Head of Learning and Research, Art Jameel

    Uns oversees education programmes at Jameel Arts Centre – from school visits and children’s materials through to research initiatives and the Jameel Library. She has a particular interest in visual culture and alternative histories and, over the past ten years, has worked across research, programming and content-development. Previous roles include managing the Global Art Forum at Art Dubai and research and curatorial at the Sharjah Art Foundation.

    Q&A

    Q: Most important next step for the UAE creative industry as a whole.

    The ongoing importance of documentation and bespoke legislation towards creative industry, entities and individuals.

    Q: Favourite event in the UAE cultural calendar.

    Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

    Q: Essential book to read / movie to watch / artist to follow today.

    Book: Minor Detail by Adania Shibli Artist: Samaa Emad, doing important work in Gaza right now @samaaemad43 (thank you for the connection Maria Alem!)

    Q: Any tips for submitting an application or succeeding in an interview?

    This might seem obvious, but I really cannot stress the importance of ample preparation, rehearsal and practice! It is not to be undermined and is almost as solid as the physical laws of the universe, you put in the work, you yield the results! Also, the people on the other end will see these spelling mistake and can also totally see through a Chatgpt script – check your grammar and be yourself!

    Q: Do you have any quirky habits that have proved relevant to your work?

    I would say an affliction rather than a habit, but I am a high-wired, anxious-leaning character. Over the years, I started to see this as an opportunity (rather than a curse!) to channel that level of thinking towards planning, attention-to-detail but also in empathy towards working with others.

    Q: What was your first ever job?

    Following my internship, I stayed on at Sharjah Art Foundation as a Researcher and Curatorial Assistant. These initial few years were of fundamental growth for me, and I had met people there who became mentors and dear friends to this day.

    Q: Did you go to university, and if so what did you study?

    It’s amazing seeing degrees and specialisations within the Creative industry multiply in the UAE now! During my time, options were more limited; I studied Public Relations and found a deeper calling in International and Governmental Studies – the skills learnt in critical reading and thinking are so important to any professional role and so is curiosity towards our collective histories, current affairs and rights.

    Q: When did you know that working in the creative sector was going to be the right fit for you?

    I remember close to 15 years ago, I had just finished my humanities bachelor’s degree at the American University of Sharjah and felt like I was inside a diorama of confusion, choices and decisions to be weighed and made. A great friend of mine passed on a callout for an internship for the Sharjah Biennial. I still remember the pamphlet’s visual design, it had a strong pull and I was so intrigued by the proximity yet alienness of this world to me – having grown up in the UAE. I remember calling the listed number to be asked if I know how to use Illustrator and whether I can join immediately – and I jumped on it. I entered that same week into an electrifying office at the Sharjah Arts Museum. It was about a month from the opening of the biennial and the room had surely 50+ people some of whom were artists, designers, writers and Sharjah Art Foundation staff all working together. I spent that month helping Slavs and Tatars realise their commission and the branding identity of the biennial that year. It was beyond exhilarating for 22 year-old Uns. In a span of a few weeks, I had met some of the smartest, curious and hardworking individuals I have known, all coming together under shared belief and commitments towards the arts and communities.