Sharjah Art Foundation invites university students, emerging artists, writers, cultural practitioners and anyone interested in contemporary art and culture to participate in the latest edition of Semi-systems, a series of intensive courses examining how art shapes and reflects the world around us.

Held on weekend evenings at The Flying Saucer, Dasman, Sharjah, the courses offer participants an opportunity to learn from established artists, writers and researchers in a collaborative environment. Participants explore alternative ways of researching and interpreting visual and cultural material, drawing on a wide range of sources, from architecture, literature and archives to photography and performance. The courses focus on developing research, writing and critical thinking skills that can be applied across creative and professional contexts.
 

Upcoming Courses

Reading Sharjah: Tracing Urban Memory
26–28 June 2026
6:00 pm–9:00 pm

In Arabic

How do cities hold memories? Engaging with Sharjah's urban landscape, participants will uncover the stories embedded within its buildings and public spaces. Through observation, discussion and research, they will gain new perspectives on the city's history while developing practical tools for documenting and interpreting the places they encounter every day.

Small Sources, Wide Waters: Writing Stories from the Gulf
10–12 July 2026
6:00 pm–9:00 pm

In English and Arabic

Storytelling can be an effective way of understanding Arabian Gulf histories and cultural connections. Working with overlooked archives, personal narratives and local knowledge, participants will experiment with different approaches to writing and storytelling while learning how small details and everyday experiences can reveal larger social and cultural currents.

All Semi-system courses are free to attend, and no prior academic or artistic experience is required. 

Registration is now open. Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the course(s) they select.

For more information about the courses, visit sharjahart.org.  

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