Sharjah Art Foundation opens new Building for its Archive and Collection

Sharjah Art Foundation announces the opening of a new purpose-built facility dedicated to the long-term preservation, research and care of its growing collection as well as its extensive archival holdings.

Spread over almost 10,000 square metres, the SAF Archive & Collection Building has been designed to meet the evolving needs of the Foundation's collection, providing specialised facilities for the conservation, documentation and study of artworks and archival materials. Envisioned as a space for discovery and reinterpretation as well as safekeeping, it also creates valuable opportunities for researchers and specialists to engage with the works.

The Sharjah Art Foundation Collection grew from the early acquisitions and works commissioned for Sharjah Biennial and the Foundation's wider projects and programmes. Over the years, it has developed into one of the pre-eminent collections of its kind, bringing together significant works of modern and contemporary art from local, regional and international contexts. Through scholarly research and rotating exhibitions, the Foundation continues to enrich public understanding of the artistic practices and histories represented in its holdings.

Designed by Sharjah Art Foundation's team, including Aia Azad and Maria Kalaiji, in collaboration with SpaceContinuum Design Studio, the building reconsiders the relationship between the public presentation of art and the often-unseen processes that sustain collections. Beyond their histories of production and exhibition, artworks and archives acquire further dimensions through handling, research, documentation and care. By bringing these processes into view, the building offers new perspectives on how collections are formed, preserved and interpreted, challenging conventional distinctions between exhibition spaces and storage facilities.

Alongside the artworks, the building houses the Sharjah Art Foundation Archive, which documents the artists, exhibitions, events and spaces that have shaped the Collection, Sharjah Biennial and the Foundation's history. Its holdings range from artists' sketches and preparatory documents to art-related publications and exhibition ephemera. The Archive also includes architectural and municipal blueprints of buildings and venues renovated or activated by the Foundation, as well as found objects recovered through its ongoing adaptive reuse projects.

Conceived as an active working environment, the building brings together specialists, archivists, conservators and other members of the Foundation's team. It will also offer opportunities for visitors to engage more directly with the Collection and Archive through research visits, guided collection tours, on-site workshops, small-scale presentations and changing displays of selected works. Visitors may also consult with specialists or observe objects under their supervision, offering insight into the processes involved in the study and care of artworks and archival materials.

Access to the SAF Archive & Collection Building will be available on designated days and by advance booking only.

With the opening of this new facility, Sharjah Art Foundation further strengthens its commitment to preserving artistic and cultural heritage, supporting scholarly research and fostering deeper engagement with the histories, practices and ideas represented in its Collection and Archive.

Visitor Information

Opening date: 12 November 2026
Access: Designated days, by advance booking only

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. 

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.

Joseph De la Cerna
joseph@sharjahart.org
+971 (0)6 5444113