Sharjah Art Foundation

Sharjah Art Foundation brings a broad range of contemporary art and cultural programmes to the communities of Sharjah, the UAE and the region. Since 2009 SAF has built on the history of cultural collaboration and exchange that began with the first Sharjah Biennial in 1993. Working with local and international partners, we create opportunities for artists and artistic production through our core initiatives that include the Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, residencies, production grants, commissions, exhibitions, research, publications and a growing collection. Our education and public programmes focus on building recognition of the central role art can play in the life of a community by promoting public learning and a participatory approach to art. Sharjah Art Foundation is funded by the Department of Culture and Information, Government of Sharjah.

Open Call: Production Programme

Deadline for application: 31 January 2014

Sharjah Art Foundation announces the 2014 Production Programme Open Call for grants to artists working in a range of media.

Sean Gullette, Traitors (Khawana), 2012. Produced by Sharjah Art Foundation for the 2012 Production Programme.
Still, courtesy of the artist.

Chaos into Clarity: Re-Possessing a Funktioning Utopia

26 October 2013- 14 January 2014
Building F, SAF Art Spaces

Hassan Hajjaj, Le Salon Paris, mixed media installation, 2010

I Look to You and I See Nothing

Curated by Olivier Varenne and Nicole Durling

16 November - 16 February 2013
Building P & J, SAF Art Spaces, Heritage Area and Flag Island

Giuseppe Penone, Rovesciare i propri occhi (To Reverse One’s Eyes), 1970. Photograph: Paolo Mussat Sartor

Rawdat al-Balabel

In collaboration with AMAR Foundation (Arab Music Archiving & Research), Sharjah Art Foundation presents Rawdat al-Balabel: a series of podcasts about classical Arabic music that consists of 104 episodes posted online over the course of 52 weeks. The thirty-seventh podcast of Rawdat al-Balabel "The sīkāh maqām" is now available.

Farjallāh Bayḍā, image courtesy of AMAR Foundation

SAF Education Programme

Autumn 2013

Children's Education Programme 28 September - 5 December 2013 Sharjah Art Foundation’s education programme offers children the opportunity to discover their artistic creativity while learning about art and culture. Taught by artists, the programme is designed for children 5-15 years of age.

SAF Young Artist Programme 28 September 2013 - 25 January 2014 Sharjah Art Foundation continues its adult programme in autumn 2013. The series of seminars, intensive workshops, discussions and networking opportunities with art professionals are aimed at young artist who wish to deepen their practice and develop their professional and practical skills.

Contemporary Art Appreciation Programme (CAAP) 28 October 2013 - 25 February 2014 ThIs programme includes a dynamic range of workshops and events for art enthusiasts who wish to explore and develop their knowledge of contemporary art.

Sharjah Biennial 12

Eungie Joo as Curator

Sharjah Art Foundation announces the appointment of Eungie Joo as Curator of Sharjah Biennial 12 (SB12), opening in March 2015. Joo is Director of Art and Cultural Programs at Instituto Inhotim in Brumadinho, Brasil, and previously served as Director and Curator of Education and Public Programs at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York.

Wael Shawky’s new film Al Araba Al Madfuna II premieres in London

Wael Shawky, Al Araba Al Madfuna, 2012, Black-and-white video projection with sound, courtesy of the artist and Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Beirut/Hamburg. Installation view.