Culture & Education | Thursday 30 March, 2017 4:00 am |

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) – the Emirate’s dedicated entity for arts, culture and heritage – successfully concluded the SIKKA Art Fair 2017, which was inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture, in the presence of State Minister for Happiness Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi. Sikka 2017 saw more than 30,000 enthusiastic visitors gathering to join the festivities that took place from 11th to 21st March, at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

A highlight of SIKKA 2017 was a private gathering (Majlis) held by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa with key industry specialists across the art and creative sectors, as well as some of the UAE’s Emirati and resident artists. Sheikha Latifa presided over the gathering and encouraged attendees from across the GCC to voice their opinions on a wide range of subjects including challenges and opportunities in the art sector; the past, present and future of Dubai’s cultural scene; and how to sustain the positive impact of the Emirate’s artistic society.

Among the multitude of visitors at the fair were VIP attendees including His Excellency Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality; His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Zarooni, Director of Al Amal Hospital and Deputy Director of Dubai Medical District; and Dr. Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Director of Dubai Medical District and a number of CEOs of Happiness.

Lubna Al Shamsi, Projects Manager and Project Leader of Dubai Art Season and SIKKA Art Fair at Dubai Culture, commented: “SIKKA Art Fair goes from strength to strength with every passing year, and has grown in scope and influence to become a global hub for creativity that attracts acclaimed GCC, Emirati and UAE-based artists, as well as growing numbers of cultural enthusiasts from across the region. The fair is a major part of our efforts to support the Dubai Plan 2021 and make this a city of happy, creative and empowered people who are proud of their cultural heritage, by nurturing and celebrating local talent, enhancing the community’s pride in its rising stars, promoting Emirati culture, and building a heritage for future generations to call their own.”

SIKKA Art Fair is the Authority’s flagship initiative under the Dubai Art Season umbrella, and showcases GCC, Emirati and UAE-based artists via a range of exciting exhibitions, workshops, recitals and improvisational performances that take place across the city. SIKKA 2017 introduced new happiness activities in line with the National Happiness Programme and the Dubai Plan 2021, including 33 happiness boosting workshops for children and adults, as well as two new initiatives which will continue until the end of April – ‘SIKKA Around the City’ and ‘SIKKA Art Bus.’

The recently concluded edition offered visitors a diverse agenda of highlights across the visual and performing arts, music, film and literature. These included ‘Connect 42’, a pop-up exhibition based on the theme of ‘connection’ and showcasing installations from 25 talents; a collaboration between LOCO’MOTION Community Cinema and The Animation Chamber that screened an array of cultural films; and for the first time The Bahrain House, which presented the work of five Bahrani artists.

SIKKA Art Fair complements the city-wide activation of cultural events that will take place during the fourth edition of Dubai Art Season, which runs throughout March and April 2017 and also takes places under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The two-month showcase of art and cultural events offers an unmatched celebration of creativity, innovation and culture, featuring Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai, and the Middle East Film and Comic Convention, among hundreds of initiatives.