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Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is offering 38 workshops this May through School of Life, an initiative under the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy. Held across Dubai Public Library branches, the Etihad Museum, Thukher Club, and Al Shindagha Museum, the programme invites participants to hone creative and life skills, celebrate traditions, immerse themselves in Emirati folklore, and strengthen national identity among future generations.
During the month of May, School of Life will mark the Year of Community and Erth Dubai, an effort that aims to gather and share the stories that map Dubai’s journey and its residents’ experiences across generations. At the Etihad Museum, a TEDxSchool of Modern Skills Youth talk titled ‘UAE Identity’ will invite young voices together to explore national identity by integrating core values in education, art, and media, while also highlighting the Arabic language’s role in preserving heritage and linking local customs to innovation and sustainability.
At Umm Suqeim Library, ‘The Little Reporter: UAE Community Values’ introduces young learners to journalism fundamentals—storytelling, report writing, and critical thinking. Meanwhile, Al Rashidiya Library hosts ‘Puppet Show: Bringing Emirati Folktales to Life,’ an interactive dive into local folklore. The ‘Al Shindagha Museum: Preserving Cultural Identity’ session examines how historic sites become living museums that reflect culture, while ‘Reimagining Community Spaces’ guides participants in transforming communal venues into educational exhibits.
Under the Wellness and Nutrition Club, families visiting Hatta Public Library will discover jam-making with Nada Kattan, learning techniques to make different flavours. At Al Safa Art & Design Library, women can join a Pilates class to enhance strength and flexibility. The Art Club there is also organising four hands-on classes. The first is a painting masterclass by Benedicte Gimonnet. Next, Abeer Al Edani will be hosting ‘Portraits of Memory: A Collage Journey,’ turning personal memories into collages. Finally, Medaf Studio experts will lead ‘Create Your Own Lamp’ and ‘Paint Your Own Cap,’ where kids can learn to transform everyday items. In the Book Club’s ‘Kameel’s Little Secret,’ children can follow a young camel, Kameel, on a journey of acceptance, kindness, and self-confidence.
Al Twar Library’s STEM Club opens the door to families for the ‘Green Leader Challenge,’ fostering intergenerational collaboration on sustainability projects. Also focusing on life skills, Al Mankhool Public Library is hosting ‘Entrepreneurship Open Day – From Idea to Pitch’ under the Career Club, where attendees will experience what it is like to be an entrepreneur from idea to presentations, using Odoo as the central platform to design, build, and showcase their business concepts.
Al Mankhool Library welcomes chess enthusiasts to two advanced courses: ‘Chess 201: Think Before You Move,’ where players focus on shifting from reactive moves to long-term strategy, and ‘Chess 201: The Secret Language of the Chessboard,’ decoding the tactical patterns that seasoned players see at a glance. The Language Club’s ‘French 101: Language & Culture for Beginners’ by Berlitz covers the basics of the French language, including essential vocabulary, greetings, and simple phrases, with a flavour of French customs to enrich the learning experience.
For calligraphy aficionados, Al Mankhool Library’s Calligraphy Club presents two Baybayin workshops: the first applies the ancient Filipino script to traditional Emirati handicrafts, and the second turns plain notebooks into personalised works of art. At Al Safa Art & Design Library’s Impact Track, Mohammad Altamimi leads Ruq’ah calligraphy sessions, teaching participants to trim reed sticks to craft letters Bā’, Rā’ and Nūn with precision. The Impact Track’s Photography Club rounds off the month with practical training in lighting, exposure, and editing techniques, a guided photo walk, and a field visit to Canon’s studio facilities.