The Sharjah Art Foundation – a stalwart of the UAE’s culture capital
Calling all art enthusiasts…to the Sharjah Art Foundation. The foundation was aptly established in the UAE’s cultural capital a few decades ago and has been supporting local artists and related practices in the country ever since. Want to know more? From exhibits to artistic practices and supported platforms, here is everything you should know about the SAF.
About Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF)
Sharjah Art Foundation is located in the emirate’s art and heritage areas. It was officially founded in 2009. Since then, it has played host to several programmes throughout the year, most of which feature music, global artists, Arab artists, movie screenings, performances as well as educational sessions for adults and kids.
Apart from these, the foundation is also known to host the annual March Meeting and the Sharjah Biennial, which is held after every two years.
Exhibits
The Sharjah Art Foundation offers an annual roster of scheduled art exhibitions with the focus being the work of regional, local and global artists. Here are some of the current exhibitions you can book tickets to.
- Hrair Sarkissian: The Other Side of Silence (Until 30th January 2022 at Al Mureijah Square)
- The Otolith Group: Xenogenisis (Until 5th February at Al Mureijah Art Spaces)
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan: The Sonic Image (Until 4th July 2022 at Al Mureijah Square)
- CAMP: Passages through Passages (Until 4th July 2022 at Arts Square)
Sharjah Art Foundation Events and Programmes
From performances to screenings and educational programmes, the SAF hosts a range of events throughout the year. Some of these taking place in the next few weeks include:
- Open Call: Production Programme (Until 10th February 2022)
- Engraving and Printing (Beginner): Until 22nd March 2022
- Engraving and Printing (Intermediate): Until 17th March 2022
- Talk: Envisioning a Post-cinematic Pan Africanist Aesthetics: Adult Learning Programme until 5th February 2022
Those interested can check out the SAF official website to apply for intermediate and beginner courses for other available sessions.
Apart from the mentioned activities, visitors can also take part in these programmes by the Sharjah Art Foundation. These are representative of works of artists that reflect SAF’s prime projects like film club activities, film programme screenings, internships, production grants and more.
- Film Programme: Offers regular screenings in the emirate’s only outdoor cinema, Mirage City Cinema. The Film Programme also serves as a platform for visual artists to showcase their own work.
- Productions and Partnerships: The Sharjah Art Foundation has supported the work of visual artists and filmmakers since the Sharjah Biennial held in 2003.
- Artist and Professional Programmes: This includes production programme grants, residencies, internship opportunities and more.
- Music and Performance Programme: In support of musical projects, the SAF offers educational opportunities, performances and concerts. Over the years, the programme has featured the Foundation’s work with a variety of composers, artists, stage directors and choreographers.
- Community Programme: The SAF has worked with local communities for a variety of initiatives like Vantage Point Sharjah and Urban Garden.
- SAF Online: The Foundation offers live online streaming for notable documentaries, narratives and experimental films, most of which are authorised by the foundation itself.
SAF Venues
Looking for information about the Sharjah Art Foundation location? Event spaces and exhibitions from SAF are scattered across the emirate’s heritage sites and some off-site locations.
- Bait Al Serkal: Al Shuwaiheen neighbourhood
- Bait Obaid Al Shamsi: Al Shuwaiheen neighbourhood
- Al Mureijah Art Spaces: Al Mureijah Square
- The Flying Saucer: Intersection of Yarmook, Dasman, Ramla and Ghubaiba
- Sharjah Art Foundation Rain Room: Al Majarrah Park
- Al Hamriyah Studios: Near Al Hamriyah Beach Park
Learning at Sharjah Art Foundation
The SAF offers several educational opportunities across Sharjah for both children and adults. Available in both English and Arabic, these range from workshops to talks, courses and excursions. Most of these are part of current exhibitions by Sharjah Art Foundation.
- Programme for Families and Children: The courses in this programme are meant for people aged 6 to 15.
- Programme for Youths and Adults: These courses focus on contemporary art and are meant for participants aged 15 and older.
- Programme for People with Disabilities: These are courses, excursions and workshops for those with developmental, physical and cognitive disabilities — available for participants aged 3 and above.
- Children’s Summer Art Camp: The SAF summer camp invites students from private and government schools across the emirate. It’s a great opportunity for young artists, aged 7 to 17, to get acquainted with contemporary art. Apart from practical experiences, the camps include discussions, theoretical understanding and field trips. Those interested can inquire about upcoming camp sessions by getting in touch with concerned authorities at schools@sharjah.org.
Other educational offers at SAF include art tours, studio courses talks and more.
Sharjah Biennial
Conducted once every two years, the Sharjah Biennial is an extensive contemporary art exhibition that was previously organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information before it was handed over to the SAF. Honoured artists are presented the Sharjah Biennial Prize at the end of the event — selected by a jury of acclaimed figures appointed by the art foundation Sharjah. It can be given to any number of participating artists at the sole discretion of the jury.
Sharjah Biennial 15
The next edition of the exhibition will be held in 2023, with the theme being “Thinking Historically in the Present. Sharjah Biennial 15 (SB15) is expected to commence during February 2023.
The idea for SB15 was conceived by late art critic and curator Okwui Enwezor and is a reflection on his work, most of which has inspired other global biennials. This will be the 30th anniversary of the event in Sharjah and will be curated by SAF director Hoor Al Qasimi. Over 30 works were proposed by Enwezor for SB15 in honour of the anniversary.
March Meeting
In 2022, the SAF’s yearly convention of artists and curators, March Meeting (MM), will take place from 5th to 7th March. The theme of the March Meeting’s 14th edition is titled “The Afterlives of the Postcolonial.” As the name implies, this year’s convening of artists will centre around legacies concerning colonialism as well as current happenings that have had an impact on artistic as well as aesthetical practices around the world.
MM 2022 will enable participating artists to explore issues in light of postcolonial studies which have had a huge impact on cultural practices over the last few decades — ranging from apartheid to indigeneity and even climate change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance fee for Sharjah Art Foundation?
Most events, programmes and exhibitions conducted by SAF are accessible to the general public at no cost. You can check out the ticket prices for charged events on the Foundation’s official website.
What is the art foundation Sharjah timing?
Here are the timings for exhibitions at the SAF. Please note, these are subject to change especially during holidays.
- Timings: 09:00 am to 09:00 pm (Saturday to Thursday) | 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm (Friday) | 04:00 pm to 11:00 pm (Friday timings for Rain Room Sharjah)
- Sharjah Art Foundation contact: +971-6-544-4113
Where do SAF events take place?
Most of the Foundation’s events are held in Arts Square, Al Muereijah Square and Calligraphy Square. Other off-site venues are scattered across Sharjah, including the Sharjah Flying Saucer and Kalba Ice Factory.
Which are the best museums in Sharjah?
The emirate is considered the cultural and heritage capital of the UAE. The best way to learn about the history of the region is to visit the many museums in Sharjah. Among these, the Sharjah Art Museum may appeal to artists.
Looking for more options? Check out our ultimate list of all there is to see and things to do in Sharjah. From mosque visits to kayaking, the choices are immense.
That concludes our guide on the Sharjah Art Foundation. Watch out for upcoming exhibitions, programmes and events from the SAF!
(Cover image credit: SAF official website)
