Dubai Ladies Club Announces Art Conversations  A Monthly Series Of Open Discussions On Art Organised By Funoon

Dubai Ladies Club announced today the launch of ‘Art Conversations’ – a Monthly Series of Open Discussions on Art facilitated by leading luminary art experts from the local and international art scene. The series are being organised by Funoon, the art & culture division of Dubai Ladies Club, to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise related to the art, culture and education. The topics will focus on assisting emerging artists to further develop and improve their creative and conceptual thinking, art critique, art appreciation and Aesthetics . Admission to these events will be free for all interested men and women.

Muna Bin Kalli, Executive Director of Dubai Ladies Club commented, “‘Conversations’ is a unique forum that encourages exchange of ideas through a series of discussions with the artistic student community of UAE and the public at large. It opens an opportunity for dynamic and inspiring dialogue as cultural wealth lies in our ability to have a dialogue. Such meetings between different generations and fields of expertise help preserve and communicate the various thought process. The sessions of shared experiences and creative energy would play a vital role in molding and guiding a new generation of intelligent minds.”

Kicking off the season on Tuesday, 3 May 2011, will be a special interactive session with world famous artist and curator, Patricia Millns, who will share her experience in art and her passion for Islamic and Arabic arts. Millns has been living in the UAE for more than twenty nine years and has developed and honed her experience to become an intermediary artist between European and Islamic-Arab arts.

Then, ‘Conversations’ will return again on the first Tuesday of the following month (7th June, 2011) for a special talk with respected Emirati artist, Ebtisam Abdulaziz who will share valuable insights as an established artist, writer and curator. Her work has been shown at Dubai’s Third Line Gallery during the Al Bastakiya Art Fair (2009) and at the Sharjah Art Museum (2007). Her work has also been shown in the Denmark National Museum, Copenhagen (2010), the UAE’s platform at the 2009 Venice Biennale, the Kunst Museum in Bonn and the Singapore Biennial (2006). In 2009, she curated the annual Emirati Fine Arts exhibition at the Sharjah Art Museum.

Bin Kalli added. “I would like to invite everyone that is even slightly interested in the arts to attend our first gathering. Our stated objective behind this project is to equip emerging artist by developing their cognitive thinking process through exchanging of ideas with established artists. I encourage everyone to come along and share their perspectives and opinions among their peers and mentors.”

‘Conversations’ will be one of several new art initiatives launched by Funoon – the art division of Dubai Ladies Club. The newly reinvented art division was established to guide and solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of people living in the UAE. Funoon with work local, regional and international foundations to enhance the UAE’s reputation as a cultural destination through programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expressions through a variety of initiatives.
 

European Commission Commends Emirates’ Websites

The European Commission’s Director General for ‘Health and Consumers’ (DG SANCO), has confirmed that Emirates airline’s websites are fully compliant with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation, and it further commended the airline for its commitment to consumer transparency.

In a statement, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said: "I am delighted to confirm that contrary to some earlier reported indications, Emirates airline is fully in compliance with all the requirements laid down in EU consumer legislation that were monitored in the recent ’health check’ in relation to air ticket selling websites and therefore belongs to those companies that can serve as an example to be followed by others. I commend Emirates airline as a non-EU carrier for the observance of Community law and for the commitment to maintain these standards and to consumer protection in general demonstrated at a meeting held in Brussels on 17 June".

DG SANCO’s ‘health check’ investigation and report on airline websites published in May listed Emirates as being non-compliant. Subsequent discussions between the airline and DG SANCO confirmed that this was inaccurate.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: “We have had a number of open and productive conversations with DG SANCO over the past weeks. Although we were disappointed with how the original investigations were conducted, we are pleased that this is now resolved, and that consumers can be absolutely satisfied that Emirates’ websites not only fully comply with EU regulations, but also demonstrate leadership in terms of transparency and inclusive pricing.

“As a responsible global airline, our commercial operations are guided by fair business practices and transparency for our customers. All Emirates’ fares include taxes and surcharges and no service fees apply when bookings are made and paid for online. We also provide a breakdown of the fare components both online and with Global Distribution Systems (GDS).”

Mr Vaughan added: "Emirates wants to see high, universal standards across our industry to ensure a level playing field for those airlines, like Emirates, who adhere to transparency and the highest possible standards versus some who continue to practice more opaque pricing and other less consumer-friendly techniques".