Sharjah Art Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a free membership programme for the SAF Reference Library, providing greater access to its collections and resources.

Located in the Foundation’s Bank Street Building, the SAF Reference Library has over 5,000 holdings, including books, exhibition catalogues, art magazines, digital archives, architectural projects and audiovisual materials. Of particular interest are rare catalogues from exhibitions at both SAF and other institutions as well as specialist books and journals on social science, history, philosophy and cultural studies that can provide background and context for artistic projects.

The Foundation invites artists, art practitioners, researchers, university students and others with a passion for art and culture to become members of the library. The free membership presents an effective way to research, learn and engage with an active community shaped by art and cultural exchange. Reflecting the Foundation’s curatorial vision and the development of its programmes and initiatives, the library holdings will continue to grow alongside the Foundation itself.

Members can access the library from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, by presenting their digital membership cards to the security guard on the ground floor. Requests to visit outside working hours may be arranged by contacting library@sharjahart.org.

Regularly scheduled events are held to inform members about specialised library services, research support and learning opportunities.

Free membership provides access to:

• Monthly curated highlights from the collection, ranging from books to digital sources supporting individual research interests and artistic practices

• One-on-one consultation sessions with the library team, and where relevant, other Foundation departments

• The Curator’s Shelf, a selection of materials that have helped shape the curatorial thinking and artistic narratives for the Foundation’s exhibitions

• Digital scanning support for selected materials, subject to copyright restrictions

About Sharjah Art Foundation

Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. The Foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The Foundation's core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the Foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The Foundation's deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the Foundation's support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.

Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. Hoor Al Qasimi serves as President and Director. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

About Sharjah

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. It was named UNESCO's Arab Capital of Culture for 1998 and the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.

Media Contact

Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113