Dubai: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has announced the return of its 'School of Life' initiative, held under the umbrella of Dubai's Quality of Life Strategy.
According to Emirates News Agency, the programme, themed 'Family Month,' includes 38 workshops and interactive sessions hosted across Dubai Public Libraries. These sessions are delivered through specialised clubs focused on areas such as calligraphy, books, performing arts, languages, family development, and health and nutrition. The aim is to help visitors develop personal and life skills, enhance self-awareness, and engage with local literature and creative practices.
One of the major highlights is the creative writing programme launched under the Impact Track in collaboration with Sahab Collective. This 12-week course is designed for writers aged 18 and above with prior experience. It guides participants from initial ideas to fully developed works of creative non-fiction through structured, seminar-based learning. Participants will produce up to 5,000 words ready for publication, contributing to a curated anthology distributed across cultural institutions. The track, hosted at Al Safa Art and Design Library, aims to build cultural capacity, support pathways to publishing, and strengthen Dubai's writing community.
The programme's May calendar also features a virtual session on 'Self-awareness and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership,' delivered by Ghalia Turki. This session explores how emotional management and conscious thinking can lead to stronger decision-making. At the Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, Chef Alya Al Ali will lead a workshop on traditional Emirati snacks, introducing participants to dishes such as jbab and ferni.
Various other workshops are scheduled across different venues. For instance, 'Decorating a Wooden House' with Teng Miras at Al Twar Library invites families to design home decor pieces using creative painting methods and patterns. Meanwhile, Al Rashidiya Library offers a workshop by Venturia where attendees can create personalised textured frames using simple materials and moulding techniques. Ashleigh Wilmot's 'Family Matryoshka Painting' allows families to decorate their own wooden nesting dolls, and Al Mankhool Library offers 'Japanese Onomatopoeia' with Japan in Arabia, where learners discover expressive sound words in manga through calligraphy and drawing.
The Art Club programme at Al Safa Art and Design Library includes 'Cushions Block Printing' with Regal Fabrics, where families design their own cushion covers using handcrafted blocks and fabric dyes. Medaf Creative Studio leads children's sessions such as '3D Home Craft' and 'Paper Family Portraits.' Other offerings include 'House Soap' with Rooftop Soapery and 'Stitched Memories' with Tashkeel. Hadeel Adnan of Ghosn Art leads 'Doll Making,' and 'Mastering Oil Painting' with artist Abeer Al Edani is a three-part series for adults.
Hatta Public Library hosts 'Family Paper Quilling' with StripsnCurls, while Al Rashidiya Library presents 'Embroidered Stories' with Happy Chaos, a textile session that concludes with the creation of a handmade memories envelope.
The Health and Nutrition Club features a workshop with Mummy Yummy at Hatta Public Library. Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children hosts 'Pizza Making,' and Al Mankhool Library offers 'Mango Matcha' with Japan in Arabia.
In the Languages Club, Al Twar Library hosts an Arabic spelling competition organised by Arabically, and Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children presents the 'Poetry Stars' final with Nahky Arabi. Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children also hosts 'Choral in Arabic: My Family' with Cordon, a four-session series for children.
At Al Safa Art and Design Library, Fujairah School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation leads 'Geometric Ornamentation,' and Al Mankhool Library hosts 'Baybayin on Glass' with Gino Banola.
The programme also includes the Book Club at Al Safa Art and Design Library, with talks organised by AlRawyat Book Club. Samar Abduljabbar of Sahab Collective leads 'Creative Writing: Between Memory and Family,' an interactive poetry session.
Rounding out the calendar, the 'Conscious Family' workshop by Jehan Safar at Thukher Club at Al Khawaneej Library focuses on building a clear family identity. The 'School of Life Forum,' led by Muna Al Amoodi at Al Safa Art and Design Library, will bring together programme facilitators to exchange experiences and discuss future collaboration opportunities.