Located in Sharjah Art Foundation’s Bank Street offices, the SAF Reference Library has over 5,000 holdings, including books, exhibition catalogues, art magazines, digital archives, architectural projects and audiovisual materials. Among the library resources are hard-to-find catalogues from exhibitions at both SAF and other institutions as well as books and journals on social science, history, philosophy and cultural studies that can provide background and context for artistic projects. 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.
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 is an effective way to research, learn and engage with an active community shaped by art and cultural exchange.
Members can access the library during working hours, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 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.
Monthly Highlights
Members will receive regular newsletters about holdings in the collection. Books, digital sources and other materials supporting particular research interests and artistic practices will be highlighted each month.
Consultation Sessions
Members may request one-on-one consultation sessions with the library team, and where relevant, with other Foundation teams. These sessions are designed to offer guidance and feedback as members pursue individual projects. If resources needed by a member are not part of the SAF Reference Library holdings, assistance in locating or accessing digital references from other institutions, including books, journals, academic papers and other types of materials, is available.
Curator’s Shelf
Created in collaboration with the SAF curatorial team, the Curator’s Shelf showcases books and references that have informed the development of SAF exhibitions. Members will be able to explore materials that helped shape curatorial thinking and artistic narratives.
Digital Scanning Support
Artists and researchers who require high-quality images or excerpts from texts in the SAF Library collection may contact the library team for assistance. Due to copyright restrictions, the SAF Library is only able to scan selected parts of a book.
Library Catalogue
To browse the library catalogue, please click here.
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