CULTURE CORNER

Noor Al Zabin | Owner of dar.nur.art

Dar.nur.art [http://Dar.nur.art] is an online platform showcasing the works of artists that they are excited about. The artists are represented regionally and internationally. In this digital space, clients can view, purchase work and learn about various artists. Owner of dar.nur.art [http://dar.nur.art] is Noor Al Zabin, who has a BSc in Business Management from King’s College, London. Prior to establishing dar.nur in 2006, Noor spent 7-years in investment fund management at a financial institution in Kuwait. Noor became fascinated with artistic world early in her life and fully pursued her heart's desire to work in art. She began fulfilling her passion while traveling the world, bringing beautiful artistic pieces back to Kuwait. During these travels, she met artists and artisans, creating contacts that built the foundation for her dar.nur shop that thrived for the longest time in the Lilly centre in Kuwait. Since 2019, dar.nur.art [http://dar.nur.art] has moved online and Noor continues to organise exhibitions and pop ups while representing artists locally and internationally. In this episode of Culture Corner we spoke about the bravery and honesty required to lead the life of an art dealer and entrepreneur. We also discussed the necessity of art and culture in our lives and the need to provide more spaces - especially public spaces - that will feature art and help support its consumption and education. Noor spoke of the initiatives and exhibitions she organises in Kuwait to promote the artists she represents and emphasized how important it is for art to also be tangible and available to the public. Social Media: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pcckuwait/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@promenadeculturecentre1743] Credits: Host: Ksenia Graovac Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani Editing: Mohamed Amin Design: Mariam Mandani Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Reem Al Shatti | Creative Entrepreneur

Reem introduces herself as a creative entrepreneur, but she is a multipotentialite - an architect, an illustrator, an owner of a fencing academy, and a competitive figure skater with a flair for the arts. In this episode we spoke of her love of fencing and her experiences as a competitive fencer. Reem has shared how her relationship with fencing healed once she started coaching youngsters in her own fencing academy that she has founded with her husband. Reem realised that her true love lies in illustration and has been working on finishing her graphic novel. We also spoke of her newly found love of skating and how much her previous experiences in sport are shaping how she approaches skating and competitions today. On the importance of creating, and sharing art, interacting with other creators and finding the balance between all parts of her personality, all in this latest episode. Social Media: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pcckuwait/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@promenadeculturecentre1743] Credits: Host: Ksenia Graovac Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani Editing: Mohamed Amin Design: Mariam Mandani Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tim Waddell | Founder of Staged in Kuwait Productions

Tim Waddell is a Founder and Artistic Director of Staged in Kuwait Productions. Tim has been in Kuwait for over two decades, teaching, working in marketing and branding fields, as well as operations and IT, and successfully running Staged in Kuwait, a community theatre. Staged in Kuwait is a volunteer staffed theatre company where Tim oversees aspects from season planning and graphic design to marketing, directing and choreographing. He is also very keen on performing as an actor himself. How difficult is it to maintain a community theatre in English language in Kuwait, and whether it is enough to have the passion and dedication to do so, what unites people from different alleys of life to come together for SiK performances and where do creatives go after their experiences in SiK, were parts of our conversation with Tim in this episode of Culture Corner.

Maha Alasaker | Multidisciplinary artist

Maha Alasaker is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, performance, textiles, and natural dyes. Through her work, Maha embarks on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery, while thoughtfully engaging with questions of culture, identity, and self-worth—particularly how a woman’s upbringing shapes her sense of self. Her projects have been exhibited internationally, with shows in New York City, London, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, and her work has been featured in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Marie Claire, and Rolling Stone. In 2019, Maha published her first photo book, Women of Kuwait, which was later acquired by both the Getty Research Institute and the Thomas J. Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this episode of Culture Corner, we sat down with Maha to talk about the joys and challenges of being an artist, and the ongoing search for meaning—both in art and in life. We discussed her belief in lifelong learning, the importance of deepening our relationship with nature and its processes, and how she weaves these elements into her practice. We also explored recurring themes in her work, including the intersection of past and present, womanhood, and the evolving understanding of a woman’s self-worth.

Farah Bishara | Music Therapist and DJ.

Farah has been a loving music figure in Kuwait for years, setting standards and breaking barriers in what was perceived as a male dominated scene. As DJ Bonita she has also started an online records shop - Vinyl Destination, to a great community response. Farah wanted to make a different use of her classical music training, and to make a serious impact on the community. This led her to a music therapist training, and consequently, work as a music therapist in palliative care at Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice. In this episode, we have discussed the experiences in providing services of music therapy across the hospitals in Kuwait, relations to patients and their families. We have also debated on whether our societies are ready to accept that music is sometimes an inevitable part of patient care, and how much joy and comfort it can bring to a patient. What are the ways she rests and grows and how does she cope with the emotionally taxing but also rewarding nature of her demanding job? Social Media: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pcckuwait/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@promenadeculturecentre1743] Credits: Host: Ksenia Graovac Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani Editing: Mohamed Amin Design: Mariam Mandani Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED