Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival 2022 – Bringing art and community together!
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival (RAKFAF) returns with an exciting line-up of programmes for the 10th edition of this open-air exhibition. A large number of artists, painters, designers, sculptors, photographers and filmmakers will gather to celebrate the theme of ‘The Journey‘ this year. Here is everything you should look out for at this festival.
ABOUT RAK FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival celebrates art and creativity in RAK — organised by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation, a quasi-government organisation, The festival will offer guided tours, workshops, film screenings and artworks from artists in the UAE and abroad.
THE THEME OF RAS AL KHAIMAH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022 – THE JOURNEY
The theme of the 2022 edition of Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival is ‘The Journey’ in celebration of the 10th anniversary of RAKFAF and the UAE’s 50th anniversary. It’s a testament to the evolution of contemporary art in and beyond RAK.
This year, the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival has invited both local and international artists to share their interpretations of this theme — through the lens of personal growth, ancestry, national identity and migration.
RAS AL KHAIMAH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022 JURY
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival 2022 features a panel of esteemed jury members from all walks of art.
AZZA AL QUBAISI
Born in Abu Dhabi, Azza Al Qubaisi is a UAE-based jewellery artist, product designer and sculptor. She holds a BA in Jewelry Design, Allied Crafts and Silversmithing from London Guildhall. She also holds an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from HCT-CERT, UAE.
She has displayed her artwork in local shows in and beyond the UAE. Some of the shows include A 1001 Steps Festival in Helsinki, Finland, Language of the Desert in Abu Dhabi and UAE National Day exhibition at Milan Expo 2015.
Her work has appeared in several publications and won numerous nominations as well as awards — including Emirates Women Award (Business and Social Contributions categories) and the British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur Award.
SHARON TOVAL
Sharon Toval is another jury member of RAKFAF 2022. He is based in Tel-Aviv and works as a French-Israeli researcher as well as Chief Curator and Art Collection Manager of Isrotel Hotel. Additionally, he is an independent curator of contemporary art in his country.
Sharon has a master’s degree in Theory and Policy of the Arts as well as a Museology Diploma from The Israel Museum of Art. He has extensive experience in curating exhibitions across Israel and Europe as well as organising residency programmes for the Isrotel Hotel chain.
HAMAD SAGHRAN
Based in Ras Al Khaimah, Hamad Saghran is an Emirati freelance filmmaker, known for his breakthrough film Bahr Yatmi, which won several awards in and across the UAE. So far, he has directed eight short films and showcased his work in both local and international festivals. He is also a co-founder of Villa Cinema Group in RAK.
DONELL GUMIRAN
Donell Gumiran is an award-winning Filipino photographer based in Dubai. He has won numerous accolades and prizes including 1st Prize in the Digital Arts category at the 8th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. He has won the 1st Prize National & Regional Award at the WPO Sony World Photography Awards in 2021.
Donell Gumiran list of awards includes Photographer of the Year at the Spider Awards B&W in 2019 as well. He has a natural gift of storytelling that allows him to capture complex human emotions effectively.
MARIAM AL NUAIMI
Mariam Al Nuaimi is another Emirati filmmaker, with expertise in short narrative and documentary films. Her films, including Lahjatna (2011), Sunset (2012), Second Wife (2010) and Qalam Wa Hubr (2020) have premiered in festivals in the UAE and beyond. Amongst these films, Lahjatna has won third prize in the Student Short Documentary Competition. Presently, she is a Multimedia Executive in the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
KASIA DZIKOWSKA
Currently based in Abu Dhabi, Kasia is a reputed artist, with an MFA in Fine Arts from UTH Radom and experience in teaching art foundation courses at Zayed University. She is one of the few artists whose work has been showcased at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi. She has also won 1st Prize at the 2014 edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, in the Digital Arts category.
RAK FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022 DATES AND LOCATION
Al Jazira Al Hamra, the notable pearling village in Ras Al Khaimah, is the home of the festival. The region’s most popular art event will take place from 4th February to 31st March 2022, inspiring artists to become forerunners in their respective fields.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT RAS AL KHAIMAH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL?
Immersive, innovative and insightful, RAK Fine Arts Festival will display many creative programmes representing art, heritage and history. Here is a list of programmes set to take place at the festival.
ART EXHIBITIONS
Watch art come alive at Ras Al Khaimah’s fine arts festival this month! The event will exhibit masterpieces from regional talent and shine the spotlight on artists from all over the world.
FILM SCREENINGS
The indoor and outdoor film screenings at RAK Art Festival will showcase the work of independent filmmakers throughout the first month. Emerging directors from all over the world will present their creative work at the festival.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECTS
Along with film screenings, many oral stories will be presented offering a rare visual insight into the rich history of the emirate. The films will feature accounts of Ras Al Khaimah’s former residents with respect to their life in the emirate. The objective of these oral records is to preserve the history of Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village — the epitome of RAK’s cultural legacy.
WORKSHOPS
Many workshops will be held at the RAK Fine Arts Festival, touching upon different subjects such as performance art, handmade ceramics and the art of gahwa making.
GUIDED TOURS
At Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, you can enjoy a tour of the iconic Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village. The tour will be conducted by the Department of Antiquities and Museums in the second, third and fourth week of the festival. For those who want to learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s food and heritage, a walking tour of Old Ras Al Khaimah Food & Heritage presents an ideal opportunity.
WHAT’S NEW? HIGHLIGHTS OF RAS AL KHAIMAH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022
FEATURED ARTIST: YOUSEF AL ZAABI
RAKFAF 2022 will showcase the artwork of Ras Al Khaimah-based photographer, Yousef Al Zaabi. Youssef is currently the Founder and President of the Emirates Falcons Photography Society and the Vice President of the Union of Arab Photographers. He has expertise in street photography as well as portraiture and has participated in over 40 exhibitions in and beyond the UAE.
The work that will be presented at the festival is known as Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE: Past, Present, and Futures. It highlights the identity, heritage, development and nation-building aspects of the UAE, in the context of the country’s 50th anniversary.
RAKFAF CURATORIAL EXHIBITION
RAKFAF Curatorial Exhibition displays the artwork of a select few young curators who became a part of the festival’s Curatorial Development Programme. This four-month mentorship programme offered young curators a unique opportunity to host their exhibition in the 10th annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, upon selection.
Those who got selected worked closely with the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery’s Curatorial Team to curate their artwork as well as the RAKFAF team with regards to logistics and installation. The exhibition is located in Bayt 8.
THEMED WEEKENDS
1. CULTURAL WEEKEND
RAKF 2022 will celebrate the Cultural Weekend on the last week of February. The event will be an ode to the rich culture and diversity of the UAE, with these activities.
- Ghawa (Arabic Coffee) making
- Traditional storytelling
- Camel rides
- Immersive local theatre performance by the members of the National Theatre of Ras Al Khaimah
2. PET-FRIENDLY WEEKEND
Calling all pet owners and lovers! Bring your furry friends to the festival as there will be an array of pet-friendly activities to look forward to. You can expect everything from workshops and events to adoptions from Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Center (RAKAWC).
- Pet Fashion Show: You love your pet and we know that! It’s time to showcase that love by preparing your furry friend for a fashion show. Dress them up in cute clothes while donning a beautiful dress yourself to win exciting prizes in categories like Best Matching Dressed (owner and pet), Best Dressed Pet, Best Personality, Best Pet Walk and Best Talent
- ‘‘Draw Your Pet” basic drawing with Perryhan: Create a beautiful drawing of your pet using acrylics, pencils and water-based paints. You’ll be guided through a step-by-step process for creating a customised portrait of your pet.
- Doga – (DogYoga): Relax with your pooch on a yoga mat. Chelsea Beyga Fitness and Dog parents UAE creates this unique experience for pet-owners to enjoy yoga with their poochy friends.
- Art Tour with Dogs: Stroll the festival site with your leashed dog and view over 150 artworks displayed at Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village.
While it’s a two-day event, activities and workshops on the pet-friendly weekend will take place only on 19th February.
2022 US MISSION GRANT ARTISTS
Aimed at bridging the cultural gap between Americans and Emiratis, the US Mission to the UAE Artist Grant allows artists from both countries
to display their works beyond the borders! Courtesy of this grant, RAKFAF 2022 is exhibiting the works of two American artists: Kristen Decker and Selma Ćatović Hughes, who is currently based in the UAE.
KRISTEN DECKER
Kristen Decker is an American artist and a freelance content creator based in Dubai. She has completed her BA in Studio Art from Wheaton College and Goldsmiths, after which she taught art in Ghana, Indonesia and Chicago. Her expertise lies in multimedia, analogue and digital photography. She takes inspiration from music, travel, vintage elements and her childhood memories.
SELMA CATOVIC HUGHES
Hailing from Bosnia, Selma Catovic has more than a decade of experience working in architecture and design. Her Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado adds to her credibility.
She explores different themes in her artwork. However, her work is largely inspired by personal experiences growing up at the time of the Bosnian War, beauty, daily events, environments and the ritual of (un)veiling. Presently, she works as an adjunct faculty at the American University of Sharjah, teaching Design Foundations.
DIGITAL EXHIBITION COMPANION – FYND.ART
Do you want to have artist information at your fingertips? RAFKAF, in partnership with fynd.art, brings you a unique opportunity to get contactless artwork along with the information of the artist without downloading an app. Go to the website, scan your favourite artwork and find the artwork description, artist information, contact information and much more.
RAS AL KHAIMAH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 2022
While the first two weeks of the event are already over, here is a round-up of other events and programmes you can look forward to within the next two weeks of RAKFAF 2022.
WEEK 3
PROGRAMME | DATE | TIMINGS | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
PROGRAMME Performance: American Patchwork Quartet | DATE Thursday, 17 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Old Ras Al Khaimah Food & Heritage Tour | DATE Friday, 18 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Old Ras Al Khaimah |
PROGRAMME Pet-Friendly Day | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 08:30 pm – 11:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Guided Day | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Communication through Ink and Charcoal | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Ceramic Painting: Fridge Magnets | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Speaker Series 4 | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Introduction to Architectural Photography | DATE Sunday, 20 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Tracing Vernacular Textures | DATE Sunday, 20 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
WEEK 4
PROGRAMME | DATE | TIMINGS | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
PROGRAMME Indoor Film Screenings With Vox Cinemas | DATE Friday, 25 Feb & 4 March 2022 | TIMINGS 07:00 pm – 08:00 pm | LOCATION VOX Cinemas, Al Hamra Hall |
PROGRAMME Emirati Embroidery | DATE Saturday, 26 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME The Art of Making Gahwa | DATE Saturday, 26 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Speaker Series 5: Emirati Culture | DATE Saturday, 19 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Old Ras Al Khaimah Food & Heritage Tour | DATE Saturday, 26 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Old Ras Al Khaimah |
PROGRAMME Leaf Stamping | DATE Sunday, 27 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME The Beauty of Watercolour Art | DATE Sunday, 27 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME Al Jazirah Al Hamra Guided Tour | DATE Sunday, 27 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
PROGRAMME RAK National Theatre Performance | DATE Sunday, 27 Feb 2022 | TIMINGS 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm | LOCATION Al Jazirah Al Hamrah Heritage Village |
FAQs ABOUT RAS AL KHAIMAH ART FESTIVAL
WHERE SHOULD I SUBMIT YOUR INQUIRIES ABOUT THE EVENT?
For general inquiries, you can reach out to the festival’s committee through the following methods:
- Visit Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research located in RAK Gas Building, Level 4 in Al Nakheel.
- Call the committee at +971-7-233-8060
- Send an email at info@rakfinearts.ae
DOES THE SHEIKH SAUD BIN SAQR AL QASIMI FOUNDATION OFFER MORE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN RAS AL KHAIMAH?
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research offers year-round opportunities to nurture creative talent in the UAE. Here is what the foundation offers.
- Film Grants to talented filmmakers
- Artist Residency to allow local and international artists to produce new work and collaborate with each other
- A chance to participate in programmes and activities conducted at its own studio and gallery
This year, the submission cycle for Al Qasimi Foundation’s Film Grant and Artist-in-Residence will open from April 2022.
That brings an end to our review of the RAK Fine Arts Festival 2022. While RAK is hosting the region’s most popular art festival, the art calendar of Dubai is quite busy this year as well. Furthermore, the highly-anticipated event, Art Dubai is taking place this year too, bringing works of over 150 artists and galleries under one roof!
Do you know a relatively newer attraction has recently been set up in Dubai? Offering an amalgamation of modern art and technology, Theatre of Digital Art is definitely the hottest place for art collectors and connoisseurs to visit in Dubai.
Setting up these platforms, Dubai has made art accessible to a wider audience in and beyond the city. For more interesting updates on events, exhibitions or other activities in RAK, stay tuned to MyBayut.
Cover Image Credits: Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival
