The Sharjah Art Foundation at Sharjah, UAE is one of the biggest platforms for contemporary artists all across the globe to showcase their artistic works in the exhibitions held here. The motto of Sharjah Art Foundation is to promote Arts and Literature so that citizens of UAE, as well as expats, participate in Arts and Literature programs.
The Sharjah Art Foundation was founded by Hoor Al Qasimi who was the daughter of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (current ruler of Sharjah) in 2009. The Art Foundation’s purpose was to support artist communities in Sharjah as well as other regions across the globe through multiple platforms. These platforms were Sharjah Bennial (an international Art Exhibition once every two years), the Annual March Meeting (an annual gathering of art practitioners), art residencies, production grants, commissions, art exhibitions, artistic research, and publications. The Foundation is laden rich with exquisite artworks, performances, music, film screenings and artist talks of Arab as well as international Artists. These artworks and educational materials are meant to fascinate audiences from all age groups.
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Events, Collections, Projects and Exhibitions at Sharjah Art Foundation
Being a hub of arts and artistic innovations, Sharjah Art Foundation is home to a vast number of international exhibitions. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
Exhibitions
Sharjah Art Foundation takes pains to promote local as well as international artists by showcasing their works in the international exhibitions held here all year round.
Some of these exhibitions are listed below:
Andrew Stahl: 1976-Today
Vantage Point Sharjah 7
Surface Tension
Lasting Impressions: Adam Henein
Air Arabia Curator In Residence: ‘32: The Rescore
Akram Zaatari: Against Photography. An Annotated History of the Arab Image Foundation
March Project 2019
Bani Abidi: Funland
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: Sunrise, Sunset
Marwan Rechmaoui: Slanted Square
Events
Sharjah Art Foundation hosts an array of events and activities all year round like film screenings, performances, music, artist talks as well as art education programs for children, adults, and families. It helps in promoting arts and literature among people.
Some of the events held are:
Muhaqqaq Calligraphy – Beginning Level
Tawqi Calligraphy
Diwani Script for Professionals
Painting Techniques for Ceramics
Drawing Southern Iraqi Marshes
Sculptures Using Wires and Nets
Ceramics and Pottery for Adults
Sculpting for Adults
Making Ceramic Murals
Lecture: A Painting and an Artist
Relief Technique – Carving Letters
Children’s Open Day 18
Writing on Walls to Create an Antique Look
Making a Clay Citrus Juicer
Old Kufic Script
Shaping a Vase like a Fish
Projects
Sharjah Art Foundation has collaborated with numerous talented regional as well as international artists to work on several projects which are showcased in their exhibitions.
Sharjah Art Foundation is keenly interested in collecting jewels of art pieces from exhibitions, foundation projects, etc. Most of these collections are a work of their regional artists.
Some of these collections are mentioned below:
La Vigie
Burnt Umber & Ultramarine Blue
I LOVE EGYPT
Into the Future
Männergeschichten
Guide to Al Khan, an empty city of Sharjah
The Three Disappearances of Soad Hosni
Gravida’s Fourth Wall
Gravity and Others
Shahrazad
Building
Tunnel
Sharjah Ceilings
White Dream
Tickets and Packages Information
Sharjah Art Foundation organizes numerous exhibitions, events, programs in fields such as Arts, film-making, live performances in music and dance, calligraphy competitions, etc. Though a general visit to the Sharjah Art Foundation won’t cost you a penny. But if you want to attend exhibitions, events or other competition, then there are some charges included. They are listed below.
Sharjah Rain Room - Artificial room
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Where you can experience picturesque scenes accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue. Also, a maximum of six people can be inside at a time with a maximum visit duration of 15 min.
Adult: 25 AED
Student: 15AED
Teacher:15AED
Children below 5 years and a person with disabilities are not charged
Sharjah Film Platform
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Supporting various film-makers from all across the world by helping them with their film production and providing a stage for their film launch. You can book your tickets online or at the venue itself to book tickets for these fantastic films by these talented film-makers.
Food and Beverages
After dwelling so long for exotic art and craft-works, you might be craving for some food. No worries! Below we have listed the top 10 restaurants to eat food while visiting the Sharjah Art Foundation.
1. Karachi Darbar Restaurant
Location: Al Shuwaiheen Corniche St, 0.2 KM from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Good food available at an affordable price. Cost for 2: AED 70
2. City Corner Restaurant & Cafeteria
Location: Al Shuwaiheen Corniche St, 0.2 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Fresh and Tasty Seafood dishes are available here Cost for 2: AED 80
3. Majlis Lahore Restaurant
Location: Al Shuwaiheen Corniche St, 0.2 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Delicious breakfast as well as lunch alternatives Cost for 2: AED 50
4. Al Safeer Restaurant
Location: Al Shuwaiheen Corniche St, 0.2 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Deliciously cooked Arabic as well as continental dishes Cost for 2: AED 70
5. Lalit Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Al Shuwaiheen Corniche St, 0.2 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Simple yet exquisite vegetarian cuisine with the Simple Hot Veggie as a must-try. Cost for 2: AED 30
6. Al Saroud Alturathi
Location: Al Mareija St Corner of Corniche St & Hisn Ave, 0.4 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: Grilled seafood and Arabic dishes are a must-try. Cost for 2: AED 60
7. The Restaurant at Al Bait Sharjah
Location: Heart of Sharjah, Al Mareija Next to The Spa, 0.4 km from Sharjah Art Foundation USP: A wide array of Indian, Asian, Contemporary, Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisines are available. Cost for 2: AED 120
Other things to do at Sharjah Art Foundation
Besides gazing at the breath-taking artistic works at Sharjah Art Foundation, there is a lot more to get yourself involved at.
Here are a few of those things:
Participate at the calligraphy or pottery or other competitions that are held at this museum and who knows you may even get the first prize.
Enjoy the film-screening event where young film-makers gather on stage to showcase their first project.
Explore the Sharjah Art Foundation through their Residence Program, where artists, as well as visitors, get to know more about the history of this huge initiative.
Take part in engaging workshops and events to promote arts and literature.
Take a self-guided intuitive group tour of the Art Foundation
Visit the Sharjah Art Foundation’s Garden, which is designed as a collective space for social learning and creative site for local communities.
Attend the Vantage Point Sharjah Exhibition, where participants are invited to capture
Sharjah’s everyday life and culture through Photography.
