The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the expansion of its School of Life initiative to include the Al Rashidiya Public Library, further extending its reach across the Dubai Public Library network. The move underscores the Authority’s role in enriching knowledge, supporting community wellbeing, and contributing to Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, which aims to position the city as a global hub for culture and learning.
The expansion was informed by a public survey that revealed strong interest from Al Rashidiya visitors in participating in School of Life events. Respondents expressed enthusiasm for talks, creative impact tracks, and clubs spanning literature, health and nutrition, family development, languages, careers, arts, and calligraphy. They also called for additional topics including entrepreneurship, technology, and chess, as well as an expanded literary program featuring book clubs, creative writing, and poetry.
October Theme: The Beauty of Calligraphy
Throughout October, five libraries—Al Rashidiya, Al Safa Art & Design, Al Mankhool, Hatta, and Al Twar—will host 28 interactive sessions under the theme The Beauty of Calligraphy. These cultural hubs will provide opportunities to exchange ideas, explore languages, experiment with calligraphy, and connect traditional art with modern technology.
Highlights Across Libraries
- Al Mankhool Library will host a Japanese calligraphy workshop, offering an introduction to brush techniques and their cultural significance. Sessions also include Calligraphy and Artificial Intelligence with Hazem Kurdali, Calligraphy in Advertising and Branding with Harry Hussin, and two creative workshops by artist Gino Banola on the ancient Filipino script Baybayin. Adults will explore “Baybayin on Vase” and “Baybayin on Cups,” transforming everyday objects into personalized art pieces.
- Hatta Public Library will bring together art and family activities with Letters on Cookies, a Health & Nutrition Club event led by Nada Saeed Kattan. Families will decorate cookies with artistic calligraphy, blending culinary creativity with cultural expression.
- Al Twar Library will focus on sustainability and creativity. Arabic in Nature: Eco-friendly Waste Segregation, presented by Arabically, will highlight how language, creativity, and technology can promote sustainable practices. Meanwhile, Animating Arabic Calligraphy by Zeinab Bashir will introduce children to digital tools that bring hand-drawn letters to life.
- Al Safa Art & Design Library will offer a rich mix of workshops. The Readers’ Majlis will present The Turning of Seasons, a storytelling session exploring change and transformation. The Art Club, in collaboration with Medaf Creative Studio, will host sessions such as Names on Geoboard, Pop Your Name, Retro Style Calligraphy, and Initials in Gold Leaf. In addition, artist Abeer Al Edani will lead Letters Drawing, showcasing how Arabic letters can be transformed into imaginative artworks.
A Growing Cultural Movement
By extending School of Life to Al Rashidiya Library and aligning its October programming around calligraphy, Dubai Culture continues to nurture creative skills, support lifelong learning, and provide inclusive spaces for cultural engagement. The initiative reflects the Authority’s mission to empower talent, promote innovation, and enhance Dubai’s reputation as a city where people can live, work, and thrive.
