SIKKA 2017

Dubai Food Festival came to an end. For those who are little disappointed and ask is there another festival celebrating food? worry not friends, because hot on the heels of Dubai's annual food festival comes Dubai art season 2017 (Dubai's annual art festival), and with it there are plenty of events and activities to keep us entertained in the coming week.

The seventh edition of the Sikka Art Fair, the Dubai Culture’s flagship initiative under the Dubai Art seasin umbrella is being held under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The contemporary, artist-led fair will offer an unmatched celebration of visual and performing arts, music, film, literature and food, over the course of ten days from March 11 to 21, at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. The Art Fair showcases GCC, Emirati and UAE-based artists through a range of exciting exhibitions, workshops, recitals and improvisational performances that take place across the city, with new initiatives for 2017 including ‘SIKKA Art Bus’, ‘SIKKA around the City’ and ‘Al Fahidi Fridays.’

The programme will also feature 60 workshops with more than 500 participants, in addition to a variety of 55 stage acts such as singing, theatre acts and poetry. The 2016 edition featured 25 art installations representing different artistic formats and selected from more than 90 initial submissions. In the spirit of artistic innovation and creativity, the fair’s new schedule will focus on highlighting the art and culture activities happening within the Al Fahidi Historical District. Monthly Al Fahidi Fridays, one of the Fair’s latest theme-based events, will delight audiences with special activities, including courtyard animations and performances from local Al Fahidi Historical District community members.

SIKKA around the City will engage different neighborhoods in Dubai with inspired pop-up art concepts, for which artists and galleries participating in the fair will be invited to contribute their talents to the Art Season. In addition, the SIKKA Art Van, a modern mobile-art space, will be traveling to different districts and residential areas to present exhibitions and art workshops to discerning audiences across the city.

SIKKA 2017 highlights include The Bahrain House, which will showcase the work of five Bahrani artists, collaboration between LOCO'MOTION Community Cinema and The Animation Chamber that will screen a diverse array of cultural films, and the fair's traditional Closing Feast.