Latest news with #GreenUmbrella
Irish Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leeds United legends set to line out in sun-soaked Bray this afternoon
Former Leeds United and England internationals Mel Sterland and Paul Reaney will manage a Leeds Legends XI against a Bray/Borough XI at the Carlisle Grounds was a member of Howard Wilkinson's 1991/92 First Division winning side alongside players such as Garry McAllister, Lee Chapman, Gordon Strachan, Gary Speed, David Batty and, a mid-season signing, Eric won the title on the second last weekend of the season with a 3-2 win at Sheffield Utd, Manchester United finished runners up, and it was the last First Division title win as the competition became the Premier League the 1992/ was Leeds first top flight win since the Don Revie era, coincidentally the manager that signed Reaney as a 17 year-old, a player George Best said he rated as one of the two best defenders he ever played 63, was born in Sheffield and made 114 appearances for Leeds (1989-94), scoring 16 goals. A right-back, he was a First Division (1991/92) and Second Division (1989/90) winner with the club.A colourful character, his autobiography Boozing, Betting & Brawling (Green Umbrella 2008) is quite a read while he had an acting role as the Sheffield United captain in the Sean Bean/Emily Lloyd film When Saturday Comes (1996)."I've watched Leeds all season and didn't doubt them for a minute, " says Sterland. "I think they were confident going in that they were going up because they had learned so from last season (2023/24). "They couldn't get a win towards the end and finished in the playoffs and were not as good as Southampton."This year they've realised that they are a good side with quality footballers and for me, personally, I think the manager Daniel Farke was absolutely superb."He knew what players he wanted, who he wanted to bring in, whether they could handle the pressure, because wearing that shirt anywhere comes with pressure and if that's not you, you shouldn't be playing for Leeds United."There was no stumble at the close like last season."The players that Daniel got in could handle pressure, 100 points shows we are a good, well organised side while the manager knew when to fetch the subs on."He believed in the players and if you've got a good dressing room you win things and it was similar when I was there with Howard Wilkinson, you fetch in good players who you could trust, who can handle the shirt and be honest because if you have a good changing room, you can win anything."Leeds have shown that, proved themselves, won the Championship to get their promotion to the big boys now."Aside from the manager, it was hard to pick out stars in the collective."They've all been magnificent, they all get medals to pick up, they've all shined."When we had injuries, other players have come in and they've done really well so it's difficult for me to separate them, every one of them would be in my 'three'.""But obviously there have been Joel Pirou's goals (19 of them) and the goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, is a young kid (25 years-of-age, France U21 international) and I know he dropped a few clangers and Karl Darlow came in for a few games but Illan came back better each time. "Ethan Ampadu, the captain, had some injuries but I'm looking forward to seeing him in the 80, was in the news earlier this week winning a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Elland Road his family moved to Yorkshire as a child and, having left school at 15 and working a car mechanic, was first signed at 17 by Don Revie Given his debut shortly before his 18th birthday - in a time before substitutes - Reaney was an instant hit with the manager and the fans as the club took the 1963/64 Second Division just short of 750 appearances for the club he was a double First Division, FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups and a 1975 European Cup runner-up. He remains part of the 'Legends' matchday hospitality team at Elland and Reaney's squad for today's game will include Carlton Palmer, Jermaine Beckford, Matt Kilgannon, Ian Harte, Ben Parker, Bradley Johnson, Ross McCormack and Andy the Bray/Borough squad, to be managed by Ian Morris (ex-Leeds and Shels) and Gary Zambra features a host of former League of Ireland stars including Robbie Doyle, Richie Parsons, Darren Power, Dax Kealy and PJ O' XI v Leeds Legends, Carlisle Grounds, Bray (kick-off 3pm) Adults €20, Children €10. There is a Meet & Greet Rochestown Lodge Hotel, 12noon-1.30pm Adults €20, Children € match will be played for the Tony Guirk Cup, a fundraiser for the ex-Bray Wanderers coach, Glenmore, Ballybrack player, former FAI under-age assistant to Brian Kerr who recently suffered a stroke.
Gulf Today
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
DIAC's Green Umbrella offers shade for art, community and sustainability
In a city known for its fast pace and furious rhythms, an initiative by Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC) is attempting to increase connectivity through creativity and community gathering, in Dubai. Welcome to Green Umbrella, a weekly celebration of art, sustainability, and community that has just completed its first season, bringing people together to slow down, create, reflect and engage in meaningful conversations. Spearheaded by Diyali Sen Bhalla, DIAC Chairperson, in collaboration with Barkha Bahirwani, founder of YES (Your Eco Souq), Green Umbrella has evolved from being an event to becoming a movement. 'This isn't just an event,' said Diyali Sen Bhalla. 'It's a tradition in the making.' Held every Thursday from 3PM onwards at DIAC HQ in Jumeirah, Green Umbrella offered a space where people of all ages could bond over nostalgic board games, pottery making, upcycling workshops and mindful conversations. 'DIAC has always been a place for creativity and expression,' said Diyali Sen Bhalla. 'With Green Umbrella, we're expanding that vision — bringing people together not only for art, but for shared experiences that build a stronger, more connected community.' Green Umbrella put upfront the genuine joy of human interaction. 'We wanted to create something that felt like home,' said Barkha Bahirwani. 'A place where you can come as you are, make new friends, and rediscover the joy of making things with your hands.' DIAC has been a long-standing hub for artists and creatives, and Green Umbrella blended tradition and innovation, just as the institution does. At Green Umbrella, hands shaped clay amidst the shuffle of board games and discussions on sustainability. The games brought back childhood memories — long evenings spent with family and friends, strategising, laughing, and bonding. Green Umbrella rekindled this magic, inviting people of all ages to put their mobiles down and engage in honest play. Combing through a table. Upcycling workshops showed attendees how to transform waste into aesthetic, functional items. Groups learnt here about creativity with a purpose, since sustainability was at the heart of the Green Umbrella programme. Led by YES, those taking part were taught how to create products from fabric scrap, refashion discarded jewellery and make glass bottle lanterns from overlooked items. 'Upcycling isn't just about reducing waste — it's about shifting perspectives,' said Diyali Sen Bhalla. 'It's about seeing value where others see trash.' Pottery sessions led by Guddi Bajaj, owner of Innara and Coterie Pottery, became the place where participants could shape, mould and glaze their own creations, guided by expert artisans. Diyali Sen Bhalla emphasised that 'pottery is more than an art form. It teaches patience, focus, and the beauty of imperfection.' The takeaway was that there could be perhaps nothing that encouraged a meditative mood more than working with clay. Mindfulness and community conversations were held with the support of All is Mindfulness, incorporating guided meditation, mindful creativity sessions, and discussions on conscious living. Participants interacted with guest artists and storytellers, even as Green Umbrella turned into a platform for local artisans and eco-businesses, for showcasing their work. Green Umbrella was a space for families to reconnect through shared experiences. It was a classroom for sustainability education and hands-on learning through sustainability projects. With the first season behind it and with the response it has won, the initiative is looking forward to the next season. DIAC Chairperson Diyali Sen Bhalla. Diyali Sen Bhalla expressed her enthusiasm for the programme. 'It was amazing to see families sitting together, laughing over a game of Scrabble or Monopoly,' she said. 'It reminded us how important these small moments are. Beyond the fun and creativity, Green Umbrella made a real impact.' Most importantly, she said, 'it's a community-driven initiative, built on the belief that small moments — playing a game, shaping clay, sharing a story — can create lasting change. We saw that with every passing week, Green Umbrella was growing. Not just in attendance numbers, but in spirit.' DIAC, along with their founding partners, are now exploring ways to expand the initiative by introducing more hands-on sustainability projects, more guest artists and storytellers and unique themed editions of Green Umbrella. 'The dream is to make Green Umbrella a long standing tradition, a place where community comes together, once a week. In a world that moves so fast, we all need spaces where we can pause and breathe. That's what Green Umbrella is — an invitation to slow down and connect.' But how do arts, crafts and ecology come together? Diyali Sen Bhalla had the answer. 'The arts have always been an integral part of ecology,' she said. 'We at the DIAC have encouraged themes of sustainability that are enmeshed with art and craft. Art and ecology may seem like separate worlds, but they come together beautifully through sustainable crafts and environmentally conscious creativity.' Art has always been a powerful tool for communication, self-expression, and cultural preservation, she added. When combined with eco-consciousness, it becomes a vehicle for environmental activism, education, and sustainability. Crafts, often rooted in traditional skills and handmade techniques, also align with ecological principles by promoting slow production, natural materials, and the reuse of resources. Diyali Sen Bhalla pointed out that in a world facing climate change, resource depletion and excessive waste, sustainability was no longer just an option — it was a necessity. 'But sustainability is not only about large-scale environmental policies or corporate responsibility. It's about the choices we make every day and how we, as individuals and communities, can contribute to society. And sustainability efforts are most effective, when communities come together.'
Los Angeles Times
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The Kennedy Center slashes its social impact team, and why it matters: L.A. arts and culture this week
Last week, the Kennedy Center's new leadership, recently appointed by President Trump, laid off at least five employees working on its social impact team, including its artistic director: poet, playwright and actor, Marc Bamuthi Joseph. References to the team's work, which included attracting young, new and diverse audiences to the center, have been scrubbed from the center's website. The Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment from The Times, but in an interview with the Washington Reporter, the center's president, Ric Grenell, said, 'What the heck is the Kennedy Center doing funding a group called 'Social Impact' when we have $0 in the bank and $0 in reserve?' (Trump originally made Grenell interim executive director, but now the website lists him as president.) I'd argue that the reason might have gone beyond a commitment to equity, diversity and social justice. It might have been an investment in the future of art forms championed by the center — such as classical music and opera— that have long seen a decline in new audiences and were becoming known for attracting older white crowds. Leaders of arts organizations across the country have watched this trend with concern for decades and have been making concerted efforts to attract young, diverse audiences. The goal is not to make the older white crowds feel unwelcome but to ensure a robust future for art forms that will need new audiences to remain viable in the future. After all, dwindling audiences mean more empty seats and less revenue. This is happening at a time when the cost of operating an orchestra, including paying staff, management and musicians, is only increasing. Without fresh faces, cutbacks in staff and programming could become inevitable. By enlarging the tent and making traditionally refined and staid art forms fresher and more experimental, leading arts organizations, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with its Green Umbrella new music series, and L.A.'s avant-garde opera company, the Industry, have raised the profile of classical music and created a landscape where some of the most daring and exciting new work is being done. And the effort is paying off. According to a 2022 study by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, people under 35 are more likely to listen to classical music as part of their daily lives than their parents. A follow-up study showed interest in attending orchestral concerts also peaking. The Washington Post reported that the Kennedy Center's social impact team also spearheaded an effort to commission new works by Black composers and librettists. This work touches on another reason why encouraging young, diverse audiences to commit to classical music has been so urgent. A depletion in audiences has also been blamed on a lack of diversity within orchestras themselves. A 2023 report by the League of American Orchestras found that Black, Latino and Indigenous American representation is 'significantly lower among orchestra musicians than in the U.S. population overall.' It also found that 'fewer than one in four conductors, including assistant conductors and music directors, are women.' The Kennedy Center's social impact team was seeking to address these issues with its work, and through the programming of the center's Millennium Stage, which features free shows including plenty of world music, diverse dance troupes and orchestral performances by the National Symphony Orchestra's youth fellows. Grenell told the Washington Reporter that eliminating 'DEI-aligned programs' at the center will save $2,530,000 every year. I would counter that the work those programs sought to do when it came to cultivating new music and culture lovers — the kind that buy tickets, become subscribers and bring their families to shows — was priceless. I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, looking to expand my horizons by attending a live show not previously on my radar. Ashley Lee and I are here with your biweekly arts news roundup. American Ballet TheatreDirector and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's ballet take on William Shakespeare's classic 'The Winter's Tale' has been delighting audiences globally for more than a decade. The adaptation is now coming to California via an American Ballet Theatre premiere, featuring music by Joby Talbot and accompaniment by the Pacific Symphony. Keep an eye out for standout silk effects designed by puppetry visionary Basil Twist. The five-performance run starts Thursday and continues through Sunday. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 'Pyro: How to Blow Up a Life'Khanisha Foster's newest play centers on a woman who, after dropping everything to help her husband run the family business, learns he's been cheating on her for years and chooses to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The one-night-only reading of the romp, presented as part of Chance Theater's On The Radar New Works Program, is directed by Sasha Nicolle Smith and stars Tristan Cunningham, Kathleen Littlefield and Josh Schell. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. Kimsooja and Kapwani KiwangaBookmark these two newly unveiled large-scale installations for your next trip to Desert X: in Desert Hot Springs, Kimsooja's 'To Breathe — Coachella Valley' is composed of glass surfaces wrapped in a unique optical film and is inspired by bottari, the traditional Korean fabric bundle that's prominent in her work. And next to the Palm Springs Visitor Center, Kapwani Kiwanga's 'Plotting Rest' reflects on the region's iconic midcentury design via a pavilion-like structure inspired by the 'flying geese' quilting motif. These two outdoor works remain on view through June 11. — Ashley Lee MONDAY😂 The Bergamot Comedy Festival A weeklong event featuring more than 50 April 5. The Crow at Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Unit F4, Santa Monica. TUESDAY🎨 Marta Chaffee The Los Angeles artist's new collection, 'Grasses,' reflects on time, light and nature in soft pencil by appointment, through April 27. Gallery169, 169 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica. 🎨 Zipora Fried 'Trust Me, Be Careful, I Like Your Shoes,' featuring large works on paper, new intimately scaled drawings, ceramic sculptures and a monumental hanging drawing, is the artist's first solo exhibition in L.A.11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, through May 3. Sean Kelly, 1357 N. Highland Ave. 🎞️ International Beverly Hills Film Festival The annual event marks its silver anniversary with screenings, panels and discussions, industry events and an awards gala at the Beverly April 6. TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., 🖼️ Jim Jarmusch The indie filmmaker's first L.A. solo exhibition, 'some more collages,' features his work with hand-torn newsprint.10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. James Fuentes, 5015 Melrose Ave. 🎤 Corinne Bailey Rae The British R&B singer and composer performs on her Black Rainbows tour.7 p.m. Tuesday. House of Blues Anaheim, 400 W. Disney Way, Suite 337; 9 p.m. Wednesday. The Orpheum, 842 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. 🎸 Role Model The indie-pop singer is not in Kansas anymore, he's at the Wiltern for two nights on the No Place Like tour.7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd. 🎨 Brenna Youngblood The exhibition 'R.A..D...I..O' presents nine new paintings alongside earlier works in assemblage and photography as the artist explores American material culture.11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, or by appointment, through May 10. Roberts Projects, 442 S. La Brea Ave. WEDNESDAY💃 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater The troupe performs two programs of cutting-edge contemporary work and classics including Ailey's signature piece, 'Revelations.'7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Program A; 2 p.m. Saturday. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Program B. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 🎞️ Amores Perros The Motion Picture Academy Museum cinematographers branch presents a 35mm screening of director Alejandro González Iñárritu's 2000 debut starring Gael García Bernal.7:30 p.m. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. 🎭 Pyro: How to Blow Up a Life A reading of a new play by Khanisha Foster about a woman who launches on a romp of self-discovery after discovering her husband has been cheating on her for years.7:30 p.m. Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. 🎨 Scale Maps of the Ocean Floor A group show featuring artists Linn Meyers, Jenene Nagy and Marc p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, through April 26. Timothy Hawkinson Gallery, 7424 Beverly Blvd. THURSDAY🎼 Andy Akiho Trio The group performs original works by the Grammy-nominated and Pulitzer Prize finalist composer.8 p.m. UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd. 🎼 🎞️ John Williams Spotlight Yo-Yo Ma joins conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Phil for the first two of four concerts celebrating the music of the noted film composer. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 p.m Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 'Maybe Happy Ending' was a hit musical in Asia before heading to Broadway last November, where it premiered as this season's underdog. This was due to the fact that it was the only new show not based on true events or any other existing material, writes Ashley Lee in a story about the musical's journey to New York, and why its originality is making it an audience favorite. Read Lee's Q&A with the show's main players, including Marcus Choi, Helen J Shen, Dez Duron and Darren Criss. Fred Eversley, the engineer and artist best known for his devotion to the energetic possibilities of the parabola, died unexpectedly after a brief illness at home in New York on March 14, David Kordansky Gallery confirmed. He was 83. Eversley was born in Brooklyn in 1941 and and studied electrical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, where he was the only Black engineering student. He earned his degree in 1963 and moved to the Los Angeles area, where he worked for El Segundo's Wyle Laboratories. That work included designing and supervising the construction of acoustical testing laboratories for NASA's Gemini and Apollo programs. While living in Venice, Calif., Eversley immersed himself in the vibrant music and arts scene. There, he met artists including James Turrell, Robert Irwin, Larry Bell, John McCracken, De Wain Valentine, who — along with Eversley — became influential in the region's Light and Space movement. In 1967, Eversley left engineering to pursue art full time, learning to manipulate plastic and soon creating some of his trademark works of gravitationally spun cast parabolic sculptures. Today, Eversley's work resides in major museum collections, including Tate Modern, London; the Guggenheim Museum, New York; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.; Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The National Museum and Library Services Board sent a letter to Keith E. Sonderling — the new Trump administration-appointed acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services — seeking to outline, 'specific statutory mandates that cannot be paused, reduced, or eliminated without violating Congressional intent and federal statute.' The board's letter came after the administration issued an executive order that threatened to reduce the IMLS to its minimum statutory functions, which was read as code for eliminating it as much as was legally possible. The letter argued that the functions that could not be done away with included grants to states for library services, Native American library services, the National Leadership Grants Program, state plan requirements and statutory disbursement of funds. — Jessica Gelt Seven-year-old Lana knows how to get kids interested in music. Her 'Ukelana' YouTube channel is tops.
