Open Call for Artist to submit for Public Art at Al Ghurair

Call to action: calling local artists and art enthusiasts to submit their concepts for permanent, site-specific pieces of art and sculpture.

·         Supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Al Ghurair Centre’s initiative is a call to regional artists and those residents in the UAE who have a creative flare and passion for art.

·         Concepts for public, site-specific sculptures and installations in the urban hub of the city.

·         Acting as a platform for emerging talent in the region

·         The judges will shortlist entries in October 2014 according to their interpretation of the “some things change, some things stay the same” theme, creative nature and innovative design.

·         Finalists will be announced in November and their installations will be publically unveiled in March 2015.

·         Industry experts involved in the project include;

o   Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum (Emirait) – Artist, photographer and progressive business woman. She is determined to promote artistic development in the UAE

o   Patricia Millns (British) –Her work can be seen in prestigious public and private collections worldwide, including The British Museum, the Royal Commonwealth Society, Sharjah National Museum, the Kuwait National Collection, the Royal Collection of Jordan and the Cultural Foundation of Abu Dhabi and UNIFEM New York.



o   Ebtisam Abdul-Aziz (Emirati) – She has exhibited widely both across the UAE and internationally. A member of the Emirates Fine Art Society she lives and works in Sharjah.

o   Colin Reaney (Kiwi) – Associate Professor in Sculpture at AUD, Colin is involved in many collaborative art projects internationally.

·         Submission are being taken until 10^th October 2014

·         To submit a concept visit - http://alghuraircentre.com/publicartinitiative/

Romance On Cards - Jane Austen's Sweetheart

My knowledge of card games is extremely limited. Having had a few good hands at “ 29 “ and “Bray” I used to considered myself an expert  at cards, during my teen years. Well now I do know how complacent I was in my youthful overconfidence. However one thing that still leaves a lingering smile on my lips are the memories of relaxed, happy, enthusiastic fun times with family and friends while enjoying a game of cards. Those memories resurfaced when I stumbled upon this entirely new card game under the garb of good old time.  If you are someone who enjoys card games and wants a the good  old wine in new bottle, you might want to check this out.

ROMANCE is always on the cards with Jane Austen - and a new game takes that idea literally.

Jane Austen’s Sweethearts throws 108 characters from Austen’s six novels into the mix, testing memories as to who married, coveted or lost whom, and even offering enticing new pairings in your hand to ponder. 

It is designed to introduce newcomers to the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, while challenging hardcore Janeites to remember whom Harriet Smith eventually married (after falling in love four times) or which Musgrove sister married Captain Benwick. 

And the idea has quickly grabbed attention in the right places. It will feature in the November issue of Regency World, the official magazine of the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England. 

The clever card game is the brainchild of retired teacher Joan Ting, who created it to entertain her local Jane Austen Society in Adelaide, South Australia. Everyone immediately saw its potential, but her dilemma as she refined it was deciding how much knowledge people should need to play. 

The answer was to put both an introductory and an advanced version in the same box.

Each of the 108 cards provides information and observations about the person and the period. Beginners receive basic hints such as which book the character appeared in, but the advanced game is a lot more challenging. Genuine “sweethearts” – those who married for love not convenience – may earn you double points. 

Joan worked with Adelaide designer Tricia Smith to research colours, fonts and designs of the Regency Era to produce cards that would not have been out of place in a drawing room  in Sense and Sensibility.

She also spent a lot of time researching and touring the UK to learn more about the period and the issues of the time that are referenced in the novels, such as education and slavery. 

Jane Austen’s Sweethearts can be purchased online at www.janeaustenssweethearts.com.au