Latest news with #SharjahArtFoundation
Sharjah 24
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
SAF announces Autumn 2025 progs, launch of 2 initiatives
The season includes the 2025 editions of Perform Sharjah, Sharjah Film Platform and Focal Point—the Foundation's annual film festival, performance programme, art book fair in addition to music events. Internationally, recent and new work by artist Mounira Al Solh is on view in her mid-career solo exhibition at The Bonnefanten, Maastricht, co-organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, from 7 June 2025 to 11 January 2026. The exhibition will be on view in Sharjah in 2027. Singing Wells' Sharjah Biennial 16 project Sonic Inheritances, commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation and Bergen Assembly, will be on view at the 5th Bergen Assembly, Norway (11 September–9 November 2025). Stephanie Comilang's Search for Life II, commissioned by TBA21, Sharjah Art Foundation and The Vega Foundation, is on view in CARA, New York, until 10 August 2025. Additionally, premiering at the Festival d'Avignon in July is Laaroussa Quartet by Selma and Sofiane Ouissi supported by Sharjah Art Foundation and the presentation of Magec / The Desert by Radouan Mriziga co-produced by the Foundation. These performances will be presented at Perform Sharjah's upcoming season in Autumn 2025. Exhibition programme Afra Al Dhaheri The autumn season begins with the first institutional solo show of Afra Al Dhaheri. The exhibition invites the audience to reflect on the textures and rhythms of temporality by focusing on the artist's mixed media works which experiment with repetition, layering and accumulation. Leda Catunda Marking the first major solo exhibition of artist Leda Catunda in the region, this presentation brings together a vibrant selection of her haptic works from the 1980s to the present. Catunda's practice crafts together readymade graphics, fabrics and everyday items. Co-organised with Halle für Kunst Steiermark, Graz, the exhibition will travel to Austria in June 2026. Rachid Koraïchi Spanning five decades of his practice, this major survey traces artist Rachid Koraïchi's ongoing exploration into signs and symbols from a diverse range of languages and cultural traditions, through multifaceted installations inspired by the legacy of Islamic mysticism. Works from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection For the first time since its restoration, Kalba Ice Factory, the Foundation's east coast venue, hosts a large-scale presentation of works from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection. New openings Photography gallery and Al Majarrah Park November marks the launch of two landmark initiatives. In Al Manakh, the Foundation opens a new photography gallery housed in a repurposed former telecommunications building. The inaugural presentation features a wide-ranging selection of photographs from the Foundation's collection. Simultaneously, Al Majarrah Park, adjacent to Rain Room Sharjah, will open to the public following its transformation by the artist collective Superflex in close collaboration with Schul landscape architects, and local residents. Annual events Perform Sharjah Sharjah Art Foundation's performing arts season returns this October with the fourth edition of Perform Sharjah, expanding its presence across the cities of Sharjah and Khorfakkan. With a diverse lineup reflecting and celebrating Sharjah's rich cultural fabric, the season will create shared experiences to connect people through art in familiar and unexpected spaces. Sharjah Film Platform 8 The eighth edition of Sharjah Film Platform, the Foundation's annual festival of independent cinema and experimental filmmaking, includes the UAE premieres of a selection of films nominated by an international committee, all of which will compete for the Sharjah Film Platform Awards. Focal Point Sharjah Art Foundation's annual art book fair showcases independent bookmaking from around the world. A critical space for knowledge-sharing and community building, the fair features a compelling selection of printed material by cultural producers who expand and experiment with the medium of publishing. It also includes workshops for print and design enthusiasts. Music programme Sharjah Art Foundation is organising listening sessions and gatherings for the local community as well as concerts, workshops and talks. Sharjah will welcome a diverse group of musicians, who will perform and share their experiences of both traditional and experimental musical forms. A conference on maritime music from the Western Indian Ocean is also planned for the end of the year. Two book projects will be launched during Focal Point. More details will be available closer to the dates of the events.
Time Out Dubai
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Dubai
Time's running out to see Sharjah Biennial 16
One of the biggest contemporary art exhibitions in the UAE is ending soon, so it's time to carve out some time this weekend. Sharjah Biennial 16, under the title to carry will come to a close on Sunday June 15. Until then, you can see the works in multiple venues across the city in everything from heritage buildings to public courtyards at Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba and more. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation What is it? With more than 650 works by over 190 artists and over 200 brand-new commissions, it's a rich, multi-voiced conversation, spread across the city in everything from heritage buildings to public courtyards. Curated by five voices from different backgrounds and practices, the experience is all about allowing the art, thoughts and conversations to unfold. Exploring the exhibition There are free guided tours available, whether you're going solo or as part of a group. Sign up for a free tour here: You can even hop on a free Sunday shuttle from Al Mureijah Square at 2pm, with routes heading to both Kalba and Al Hamriyah. That's your transport and your tour sorted. Michael Parekōwhai, He Kōrero Pūrākau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river, 2011. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation. Photo: Danko Stjepanovic Play Michael Parekōwhai's Steinway grand piano There are also unexpected surprises, like He Kōrero Pūrākau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river which features a carved Steinway grand piano by artist Michael Parekōwhai. And it's just for show, trained pianists can actually book a slot to play it, activating the sculpture through their own interpretation. Book your slots on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until June 15, 2025. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation Listen to the exhibition For those who prefer a more relaxed kind of art immersion, there's always Biennial Bytes 2, the podcast offering behind-the-scenes chats with participating artists. Episodes drop every Monday on Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google and other podcast platforms, or you can catch up via And when you're ready for a break, head to Fen Café & Restaurant for a snack or browse the Sharjah Art Shops for souvenirs and books. A little something to carry home with you, perhaps? Entry to Sharjah Biennial 16 is completely free, and doors are open Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 9pm, and on Fridays from 4pm to 9pm. See you there?
UAE Moments
29-05-2025
- Business
- UAE Moments
Sharjah Art Foundation Announces 2025–2026 Open Calls
The Sharjah Art Foundation has launched its 2025–2026 open calls, inviting artists, filmmakers, and writers to apply for three key grant programs: the SFP8 Short Film Production Grant, Corniche 7 comics anthology, and the Publishing Grant. Open to independent filmmakers globally, this grant supports the completion of short films (up to 50 minutes). A total of AED 120,000 (approximately USD 30,000) will be given to the selected project. Applications are due by 11:59 PM UAE time on June 19. Illustrators and comic artists are invited to submit pitches for a six-page comic to be considered for publication in the upcoming Corniche 7 anthology. The deadline for submissions is June 30. This grant supports innovative publishing projects by cultural producers, including scholars, writers, editors, and independent publishers. A total of USD 30,000 will be awarded to multiple grantees, with individual grants not exceeding USD 15,000. Projects should be completed in time for the Focal Point art book fair in late 2026. The application deadline is 11:59 PM UAE time on August 17. For more information and to apply, visit the Sharjah Art Foundation's official website.
Sharjah 24
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Now streaming: Biennial Bytes season two
Biennial Bytes 2 kicks off with a conversation between the five curators of SB16—Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz. Moderated by Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation, the episode explores the synergies between curators' individual projects, the diverse formats in which audiences can experience the art at SB16, and how a Biennial can be a space of encounter and collective processing. Subsequent episodes spotlight specific works and projects presented at SB16 through conversations between individual curators and various participating artists, including Bint Mbareh, an artist and sound researcher working around songs of resistance in relation to land and water sovereignty in Palestine, and Joe Namy who sheds light on his collaborative approach to creating sound installations and performances. Yhonnie Scarce speaks about the historical context of nuclear testing on Aboriginal lands in Australia, and Tabu Osusa, founder of Singing Wells, dives into the group's decolonial mission to platform and preserve East African music, while Citra Sasmita talks about her collaboration with Kamasan maestra Mangku Muriati. Tune in to the podcast to listen to personal anecdotes and the stories behind their artworks. Other SB16 artists featured in the podcast are: Stephanie Comilang, Hellen Ascoli, Ana Iti, Naeem Mohaiemen, Pratchaya Phinthong, Adelita Husni-Bey, Mahmoud Khaled and Kapulani Landgraf. Convening under the title to carry, a multivocal and open-ended proposition, SB16 presents over 650 works by nearly 200 participants, including more than 200 new commissions. Exploring the ever-expanding questions of what to carry and how to carry it, SB16 is an invitation to encounter the different formations and positions of the five curators, as well as the resonances they have gathered. The Biennial runs until 15 June 2025 across several venues in Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba and other locations in the Emirate of Sharjah. New episodes are released every Monday on Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google and other podcast platforms.
Gulf Today
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Sultan receives Governor of Japan's Aichi Prefecture in Sharjah
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, received Hideaki Omura, Governor of Japan's Aichi Prefecture, on Sunday, at Al Badi' Palace. At the beginning of the meeting, Sheikh Sultan warmly welcomed the Governor and his accompanying delegation, engaging in friendly conversation about topics of mutual interest and building bilateral relations in the fields of arts, artist support, and talent development. The Ruler of Sharjah was introduced to the Japanese delegation's initiatives in Aichi Prefecture, including its various cultural events, most notably the upcoming sixth edition of the Aichi Triennale, set to take place this September. The triennial will feature the participation of 66 artists from 22 countries. It was also announced that Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, has been selected as the Artistic Director of the Aichi Triennale. Led by Hideaki Omura, the Japanese delegation expressed their gratitude for the warm reception by Sheikh Sultan, sharing their happiness at visiting Sharjah. They commended Sheikh Sultan's continued efforts in supporting the arts and various initiatives that elevate the status of art and empower artists. The head of the delegation also praised Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi for her extensive experience and pioneering work in the field of contemporary art, both locally and globally. This, he noted, contributed significantly to her selection as Artistic Director of the Aichi Triennale, representing a valuable addition to the festival. Sheikh Sultan and the Governor of Aichi Prefecture exchanged commemorative gifts and posed for group photos. The Ruler of Sharjah extended his best wishes for success to everyone involved in supporting and promoting the arts. The reception was attended by Sheikha Hoor, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation and the Sharjah Architecture Triennial; Sheikha Nawar Bint Ahmed Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Jun Imanishi, Consul-General of Japan in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; along with several officials from Aichi Prefecture's cultural sector. WAM
