Upon his arrival, the Crown Prince of Sharjah toured the festival venues, which bears the slogan “Tadaroj” (Gradate), where Sheikh Sultan listened to a detailed explanation from the participating artists about their latest artworks, based on the festival's slogan this year, (Gradate). The participating works reflected history, heritage, and other emotional and spatial contexts, all striving to translate the festival’s theme according to multiple visions.
This year, 63 artists from 27 Arab countries participate in the festival, led by 16 artists from the UAE. The rest of the participants are coming from Arab countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, Kuwait, Syria, and foreign countries such as Spain, France, India, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Turkey, Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, in addition to Serbia, participating for the first time in the festival.
Participating artists are to present 284 artworks, including murals, and paintings of calligraphy and decoration. The festival also includes 151 events, exhibitions, art workshops, and lectures, hosted by the Department of Culture in cooperation with 26 entities in Sharjah, including the Arab Photographers Union and Emirates Fine Arts Society, and others.
The event also includes 49 exhibitions hosted by the Sharjah Art Museum, House of Wisdom in Sharjah, the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, Al Majaz Waterfront, the Emirates Association for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Decoration, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, and other agencies in Sharjah.
It is noteworthy that the festival hosted more than 50 countries from different parts of the world over a period of 24 years, being diversity space, enabling the restoration of forgotten aspects of this authentic art that dates back hundreds of years, such as architecture, decoration, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and others.
The nauguration of the festival was attended by Sheikh Salem bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office, Sheikha Nawar bint Ahmed Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Art Foundation, Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Culture Department, and Mohammed Al Qasir, Director of Cultural Affairs, Director of the Islamic Arts Festival, in addition to a number of dignitaries and officials.
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