Recorded

Rediscovering art in Abu Dhabi

When Maya Allison first came to the UAE as the founding executive director of the NYUAD art gallery, she was excited to see what type of art she would find here. Having studied at the prestigious Columbia University School of the Arts in Manhattan, the idea of stories and narratives that existed outside the vast and powerful New York art world always interested her. She discovered a depth of creativity and history in the capital that helped her build a community around the university gallery. 

How Covid-19 is disrupting art

As NYUAD Arts Centre’s 2019-2020 season came to a close, Bill Bragin, its executive art director, and his team began thinking about next season. Coronavirus shut down industries with a brutality that reverberated through the art world. The arts centre was fully aware of the economic impact the pandemic had on artists everywhere. There was the uncertainty about whether there would be in-person performances, but also the potential of working with the newly enforced online medium. The challenges for the art world were vast and varied. But as the world looked for outlets from the pandemic - to watch TV and films, read books, listen to music and much more - it was obvious that creative content was vital in this time of crisis

 

Host Alexandra Chavez looks at how some of the artists from the NYUAD Arts Centre programme tackled the challenges. We hear from 600 Highwaymen, Martha Redbone and Boom.Diwan.

The NYUAD Arts Centre: Rethinking performance art

In March 2020, most of the world was waking up to the idea that life would change in ways we couldn’t have imagined. 

As the pandemic brought much of the planet to a halt, Bill Bragin, executive artistic director of The Arts Centre at NYUAD, had to rethink ways to bring cutting-edge art to the world. How could film screenings and live performance thrive at a time when people were struggling, isolated and unable to gather in public?  

The man who tested positive for Covid-19 twice

Salem Muqattash, who tested negative for Covid-19 several times between bouts of illness, may have caught the virus twice in 35 days.

David Guetta on his Covid year

Gene Simmons of Kiss on their 'Godzilla big' New Year's Eve concert and the next chapter for the band

Gene Simmons of Kiss talked to Saeed Saeed, music journalist at The National, about what people can expect from their New Year's Eve concert at The Atlantis in Dubai. He also tells us about what he learned during the pandemic and what his relationship with Paul Stanley is like.

Paul Stanley of Kiss on the challenges and future of the live music industry

Saeed Saeed, music journalist at The National, talks to Paul Stanley of Kiss about the challenges facing the live music industry and how the band’s New Year’s Eve concert in Dubai could set a new standard for producing safe gigs in the future.

How the Covid-19 pandemic changed education forever

Alice Albright, the chief executive of the Global Partnership for Education talks to The National about the GPE calling on the international community to not take children's education for granted. Alice also spoke about the impact that the pandemic has had on education.

Gene Simmons on 'Kiss 2020 Goodbye'

Saeed Saeed talks to Gene Simmons of Kiss about their upcoming New Year’s Eve concert in Dubai and why they are taking no chances when it comes to safety and will fly to the emirate on a custom jet.

UAE visa amnesty

Haider Hussain, a partner at Fragomen, an immigration services company, spoke to The National for an overview of the rules.