Images courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation
This summer, Sharjah Art Foundation is offering a dynamic range of family-friendly activities and thought-provoking immersive experiences. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge art installations, or looking to develop your artistic skills, there is an exciting activity for everyone.
Rain Room: An Immersive Experience Like No Other
Visit the Rain Room, an innovative installation allowing visitors to walk through a continuous downpour without getting wet. This immersive artwork uses 2,500 litres of self-cleaning recycled water and advanced 3D tracking cameras that respond to human presence. As one moves through the darkened space, the rain pauses directly above, creating a unique sensory experience that explores our relationship with nature and technology.
Located in Al Majarrah, Sharjah, the Rain Room also welcomes guests to purchase a variety of merchandise as well as dine at the Fen Café & Restaurant.
A Fun Day at The Flying Saucer
In addition to the Rain Room, visitors can explore The Flying Saucer, an architectural landmark that has been beautifully restored and is now a vibrant cultural destination. Visitors can browse unique contemporary books at the art library, check out the SAF Shop offering a wide selection of art books, design-led gifts and educational materials perfect for all ages, or simply marvel at the building's striking design.
Be sure to stop by at the Fen Café & Restaurant where guests can savour a menu of food and beverages while soaking in the art-filled atmosphere. Study or work at the ‘Green Crater’, a sunken circular courtyard filled with lush vegetation and natural light. Various programmes, including film screenings, workshops, performances and readings are often held in the open café or library spaces, or in one of several enclosed ‘pods’: Meeting Pod for small convenings; the larger, multipurpose Activation Pod and a Craft Pod equipped for art workshops and hands-on activities.
Engaging Workshops for All Ages
From typography and filmmaking to puppet designing and music sessions, Sharjah Art Foundation also offers a diverse range of workshops for children, adults and families.
Designed for children ages 6 to 15, the workshops provide fun and hands-on experiences. All workshops are free, and materials are provided, with parents or guardians encouraged to participate alongside their children.
For visitors ages 17 and above, specialised workshops led by locally-based artists and cultural practitioners offer an opportunity to deepen their artistic skills and critical thinking in an engaging environment.
The Foundation is committed to making its programmes inclusive and accessible. The sessions are presented in both English and Arabic.
To register, or learn more about the full summer lineup of activities, visit sharjahart.org.
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.
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.
Alyazeyah Al Marri
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113
Images courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation