School of Life Expands to Al Rashidiya Public Library and Celebrates the Beauty of Calligraphy
Dubai, UAE, 30 September 2025: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the expansion of its School of Life initiative to include Al Rashidiya Public Library and Celebrates the Beauty of Calligraphy, adding to its network of Dubai Public Library branches. This step expands the program’s reach and reinforces its role in enriching knowledge and supporting community wellbeing. The decision was guided by a survey conducted by Dubai Culture to gauge public interest in the initiative, which falls under the umbrella of Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy. It also reflects the Authority’s commitment to creating dynamic educational and cultural environments that empower talent and develop skills, further cementing Dubai’s position as a preferred city to live, work, and thrive.
Survey results highlighted that visitors to Al Rashidiya Library were particularly interested in School of Life events, including talks, creative impact tracks, and clubs dedicated to literature, health and nutrition, family development, languages, careers, art, and calligraphy. They also requested additional sessions on topics such as entrepreneurship, technology, and chess, as well as an expanded literary track featuring book clubs, creative writing, and poetry.
Throughout October, Al Rashidiya Library, Al Safa Art & Design Library, Al Mankhool, Hatta, and Al Twar Libraries, will serve as cultural hubs under the theme ‘The Beauty of Calligraphy.’ The program will feature 28 interactive sessions, giving Dubai Public Library members and visitors opportunities to exchange ideas, explore languages and calligraphy, connect calligraphy with artificial intelligence, review notable literary works, and build skills ranging from self-development to home gardening and innovative waste management.
Al Mankhool Library will host a workshop on Japanese calligraphy, offering an introduction to brush techniques and showing how this expressive art form serves as both a creative practice and a bridge to Japanese culture. It will also present ‘Calligraphy and Artificial Intelligence’ by Hazem Kurdali, showcasing AI-generated designs, and a session by Harry Hussin on ‘Calligraphy in Advertising and Branding’ to highlight its impact on visual identity. In addition, artist Gino Banola will lead two creative workshops on the ancient Filipino script of Baybayin: ‘Baybayin on Vase,’ where adults can decorate lanterns with artistic names and phrases, and ‘Baybayin on Cups,’ which transforms everyday items into personalized works of art.
At Hatta Public Library, the Health & Nutrition Club will organize ‘Letters on Cookies’ with Nada Saeed Kattan, offering families a chance to combine calligraphy with confectionery as they shape and decorate cookies with letters.
At Al Twar Library, the Language Club will present ‘Arabic in Nature: Eco-friendly Waste Segregation’ by Arabically, exploring how creativity and technology can support smart waste solutions. Under the Art Club, Zeinab Bashir will lead ‘Animating Arabic Calligraphy,’ where children create their own calligraphy on paper before bringing it to life through simple digital tools and animation.
At Al Safa Art & Design Library, the Readers’ Majlis will deliver ‘The Turning of Seasons’ under the Book Club, using storytelling to explore change, transformation, and life transitions. Under the Art Club, the library will feature workshops by Medaf Creative Studio, including ‘Names on Geoboard,’ where children design names using rubber bands and pins; ‘Pop Your Name,’ which blends pop culture, 3D paper art, and calligraphy; ‘Retro Style Calligraphy,’ combining vintage painting and lettering on canvas; and ‘Initials in Gold Leaf,’ where participants create elegant stenciled initials enhanced with shimmering gold leaf. In addition, Abeer Al Edani will conduct ‘Letters Drawing,’ demonstrating how each letter can be transformed into a living work of art.
