Open call for Sikka Art and Design Festival among Dubai Culture drives
- 16 Aug 2023
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has launched the open call for the 12th edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival to be held from February 23 to March 3, 2024, under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and member of Dubai Council.
The call is inviting emerging and established Emirati and UAE and GCC-based talent to participate in the festival and showcase their artworks across a number of disciplines, including visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, murals and mixed media, in addition to interactive workshops, musical and cinematic performances, talks and various panels. The Authority also revealed the addition of the Culinary Arts category for this edition, as it is considered a discipline that stimulates innovation and highlights various cultures in Dubai, reflecting their coexistence.
The application process commenced on August 1 and concludes September 15, when a committee of experts will sort the applications and determine the works eligible to participate in the festival. It is being held under the umbrella of the Sikka Platform and Dubai Art Season. “Through Sikka Art and Design Festival, Dubai Culture seeks to provide an innovative platform that brings together various art forms while celebrating talent, thus achieving Dubai’s cultural vision aimed at cementing the emirate’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent,” says Dubai Culture.
The festival’s 11th edition achieved new records; it attracted over 120,000 visitors who saw the works of 200 creatives who had decorated the houses and alleyways of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Visitors also enjoyed many workshops, talks and performances. Dubai Culture has also unveiled the 2023 edition of its Dubai Performing Arts Programme (Aug. 20 – Sept. 30). The initiative is seen as a gateway to artistic growth, inviting aspiring talent and art enthusiasts to develop their skills in music playing, and singing, directing and theatrical acting. The programme aims to contribute to shaping Dubai’s creative landscape.
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Dubai Culture is inviting participation in this project. With guidance from a team of performing arts experts, the programme includes training sessions and interactive workshops in through August and September. “The effort aligns with Dubai Culture’s commitment to invest in and empower youth, thus achieving Dubai’s cultural vision,” says the host body. Fatma Al Jallaf, Acting Director of the Performing Arts Department, emphasised the programme’s importance and role in refining and developing the skills of creatives in the fields of theatre and music. “Theatre serves as a dynamic convergence point for various expressive, musical, and literary arts,” she said. “Dubai Culture has been dedicated to enhancing this facet, nurturing a vibrant artistic and theatrical scene within Dubai. At Dubai Culture, we are also keen to support the music sector through a series of training workshops to hone and develop the participants’ musical skills and enrich their creativity. This programme has become an important platform for cultivating tomorrow’s stars …”
The Dubai Performing Arts Programme offers specialised workshops in acting, theatrical directing and musical instruments. Hosted by Dubai Al Ahli Theatre, Dubai National Theatre, the workshops plunge into the theatrical scene, discussing methods of selecting and analysing theatrical scripts, in addition to focusing on the art of managing actors and preparing production costs and schedules for the completion of performances.
The schedule also includes four workshops specialised in the arts of playing musical instruments, hosted by Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children; they focus on enhancing participants’ knowledge. The violin workshop delves into Western and Arabic scales besides having special exercises that help one learn violin playing techniques; the Oud workshop presents a series of workouts to strengthen and develop oud playing skills as well as providing introductions to Umm Kulthum’s music, while the piano workshops cover right- and left-hand techniques and Arabic melodies. Arabic singing includes voice exercises, maqam, group arrangements and an introduction to local folk arts.
Meanwhile, Dubai Culture continues its School of Life initiative throughout August, offering visitors to Dubai Public Libraries an edutainment experience via a captivating journey that is full of diverse opportunities to discover the hidden gems of the world, while nurturing one’s skills and uncovering talents while broadening knowledge. The part of the programme at Al Safa Art and Design Library explores the wonders of pharaonic North Africa with its Unveiling Egypt’s Ancient Marvels: The Pyramids workshop. Interactive sessions in stamp designing, crafting unique passport covers and dream destination tickets and sculpting, form part of the workshop. Storytelling is being embraced with the Crafting Your Personal Travel Journal workshop.
Al Mankhool Public Library hosts five workshops across August, where it allows visitors to visualise the shape of Dubai in unusual weather conditions through drawings and colours. The Symbolism of Flags workshop teaches details of the country’s flag, while at the Futuristic Shapes session, one can discover the architectural wonders of the Museum of the Future and get trained to design stickers and create travel diaries. Al Twar Public Library hosts Unveiling the Taj Mahal’s Beauty; it looks at India and its wonders and aesthetics. At Hatta Public Library, one can learn to make special covers and stamps for passports. The School of Life educational sessions last until March 2024.