In this melodious north-western corner of Tunisia, there are plenty of reasons to be wistful, as memories of a glorious cultural era fade. Yet there are also reasons to hope.

Part of Lebanon's rich cultural heritage, the tall, conical headdress associated with princesses sparked the curiosity of a global audience when it made a cameo at the Miss Universe pageant

Al Majalla speaks to a researcher who has spent years studying the stamps of the Arab world, learning how they act as a medium through which nations shape and project their identity.

The acclaimed Emirati author uses the fleeting details of everyday existence to tell stories filled with insight into the human condition. She tells Al Majalla about her approach and how it works.

The Iraqi poet and recently appointed director of the Arab World Institute in Paris talks about stones, the overlap between diplomacy and literature, and what gives him 'the spirit of life'

Caliph Harun al-Rashid sent Emperor Charlemagne a beautifully crafted chessboard showing how shared pastimes can be a bridge between peoples

An interview in Q&A format with a Bahraini writer who has been publishing works for 50 years

The visionary painter died 50 years ago. He was just 35 and had only put his work on show once. Cairo is displaying his influential and unique pieces, which helped modernize Egyptian and Arabic art.

Al Majalla gathers the thoughts of writers and artists on the strange silence in the country's cultural discourse on climate change – with the country one of the most directly affected in the world.

A new generation of young people is finding training and work in a refreshed and revitalised cultural scene, making their presence felt while also staying true to important heritage