15 March, 2022
Latifa bint Mohammed inaugurates 10th edition of Sikka Art & Design Festival 2022
Her Highness: The Festival supports the goal of the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to make the emirate the capital of the global creative economy by 2025
• Festival seeks to tell the inspiring success stories of emerging local and regional talent
• Sikka's success over the years has strengthened Dubai’s position as a global cultural hub
• Festival serves as a platform for nurturing emerging talent and attracting global creatives to Dubai
• 79 Emirati artists to participate in-person in this year’s edition, making up 50% of the total number of in-person participants
Government of Dubai Media Office – 15 March 2022:
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council, has inaugurated the tenth edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival that will run from 15 – 24 March 2022 at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. A flagship event of the Dubai Art Season 2022, the Festival contributes to enhancing the emirate's creative ecosystem through pioneering initiatives and new partnerships.
During her tour of the Festival, Her Highness praised the quality of artworks showcased at the event. Held under the theme 'Celebrating Art, Celebrating Growth’ over 10 days, Sikka aims to provide a platform for bringing together diverse art forms and celebrate promising talent and young artists from the UAE and the region, further strengthening Dubai's position as a global hub for creativity and an incubator for talent.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa said, "One of Dubai Culture’s key initiatives, the Sikka Art and Design Festival has established itself as one of the most anticipated events on the regional cultural calendar. The event offers emerging artists from the UAE and the GCC a unique platform to showcase their work. Sikka is part of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent in the art and culture sectors, and attracting global creatives to base themselves in Dubai. All of this contributes to the advancement of the emirate’s creative economy in line with the objectives of the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to make Dubai the global capital of the creative economy by 2025.”
Her Highness noted the Festival’s steady growth over the years and its success in attracting larger numbers of artists. “Inspiration and creativity have become synonymous with Dubai, and the tenth edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival held in one of Dubai’s most beautiful and historic neighbourhoods will take visitors on an inspiring journey of art and beauty."
The Festival will welcome its visitors starting 15 March with a series of exhibitions, events, initiatives and dialogues. The event will also include live musical performances, interactive meetings and educational activities, featuring emerging Emirati and UAE and GCC-based artists.
Through this year's theme 'Celebrating Art, Celebrating Growth', the Festival, under its new umbrella 'Sikka Art and Design Platform', seeks to support emerging artists from the UAE and the region on their professional journey and showcase their inspiring success stories. “Sikka is one of Dubai Culture’s many initiatives that provide artists and entrepreneurs in the creative industries with a platform to showcase their work and products, contributing to the development of a sustainable ecosystem for these industries in Dubai,” Highness Sheikha Latifa added.
This year, over 250 artists are participating both in-person and virtually in the Festival. Out of the total number of artists participating physically, 79 are Emirati artists, who make up 50% of the total roster, while 34 are Arab artists based in the UAE and GCC, representing 21.5% of the total, while 45 are other expatriate artists based in the UAE and GCC, representing 28.5% of the total.
This year's Sikka Art and Design Festival presents a number of special projects, including the Sikka House, Design and New Media House, creative murals, distinctive artistic installations, and the launch of Biennale.IO 2022 - a virtual art exhibition that brings together Emirati, UAE and GCC-based artists, in addition to an NFT space, art workshops, film, music, performances and other unique events. Kiosks across the neighbourhood offer visitors unique dining experiences. A new addition, the Khaleeji House, celebrates GCC artists this edition.
Sikka Art & Design Festival 2022 is powered by Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), the Festival’s telecommunications partner.
For more information about the activities featured in the Sikka Art and Design Festival 2022, please follow the festival’s official Instagram account @sikkaplatform; or visit its official website.