Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office, inaugurated on Wednesday morning the 26th edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, held under the theme “Siraj”, at the Sharjah Art Museum.
Upon his arrival, the Chairman of the Ruler’s Office toured the halls and pavilions of the festival, organised by the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture. The festival features a wide range of contemporary art exhibitions by male and female artists from various Arab and Islamic countries around the world.
Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi listened to detailed explanations from the participating artists about their works, which included architecture-inspired pieces, art installations, sculptures, ornamentations, kinetic artworks, paintings and manuscripts. These works showcased diverse interpretations of modern Islamic arts and reflected the festival’s theme for this year.
During his tour, the Chairman of the Ruler’s Office explored the artists’ creative concepts, which highlighted their distinguished artistic experiences and rich imagination. These qualities have cemented the festival’s status as a unique artistic event in the Arab world and beyond, restoring the prominent presence of Islamic arts alongside other fine arts.
More than 150 male and female artists from different countries are participating in the festival, including researchers, specialists and internationally renowned artists. The festival presents 114 events, ranging from specialised art exhibitions to workshops and lectures, hosted by the Department of Culture in collaboration with 26 entities in Sharjah. These include the House of Wisdom, the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah, the Union of Arab Photographers, the Photographic Society, the Emirates Fine Arts Society and other venues across the emirate.
The programme features 52 exhibitions across multiple locations, including the Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, the Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation, and several other exhibition spaces in Sharjah.
Attending the opening ceremony alongside the Chairman of the Ruler’s Office were: Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Library; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; Aisha Rashid bin Dimas, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority; and a number of officials and artists.
