Education Programme

The Education Programme focuses on building recognition of the central role art can play in the life of a community by promoting public learning and appreciation while encouraging a participatory approach to art.

We actively seek collaboration with regional and international educational and cultural institutions to develop specialised programmes of workshops, seminars, lectures and events designed for a range of age and interest groups from schools, to professional and artist training.

Past collaborations have included the 2009 Curators' Workshops organised with the Sharjah Biennial, Tate, and the International Curator’s Forum, and a 2007 workshop for International Arts Educators in collaboration with UNESCO.

This strand of activity works closely with the Residencies Programme by offering artists the opportunity to create work that is distinguished by an element of community interaction.

After completing a residency in 2007 Spanish artist Maider Lopez painted the outlines of a football field on the stone surface of the square in front of the Sharjah Art Museum. Lopez's Field has continued to act as a place of interaction and participation with the local community.

Our current artist-in-residence, sound artist Tarek Atoui, has been conducting roving artist workshops and programmes for media training in schools and universities as well as for artists and technicians. These workshops are supported by the Goethe Institute.