Sikka Art Fair celebrates Dubai’s growing creative landscape with various exhibitions, installations, talks and other activities. The eleventh season of the event is set to take place this February. Let’s find out more about Sikka Art Festival 2023, Dubai.
WHAT IS THE SIKKA ART FAIR IN DUBAI
A flagship event of Dubai Art Season (DAS), the Sikka Art Fair, is an annual artistic celebration to appreciate the creative talents in Dubai. Began under the supervision of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Sikka Art Festival marks its 11th anniversary this year.
The event will take place under its new umbrella, the Sikka Art and Design Platform, to support emerging talent.
Sharing her vision about the event, Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said:
“Through the Sikka Art and Design Festival, we seek to provide local and regional artists with unique opportunities to present their artworks to a large local and international audience in Dubai, under the supervision of experts. This reflects our mission to engage, inspire and encourage promising talent to achieve success, which in turn will further enhance Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, a thriving hub for talent and the global capital of the creative economy.”
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SIKKA ART FESTIVAL 2023?
The art fair aims to celebrate the history and vibrance of one of Dubai’s oldest neighbourhoods, Al Fahidi. The festival will feature numerous events dedicated to visual arts, theatre, music and film, featuring artists from UAE and the GCC.
Like previous years, Sikka Art Festival 2023 will host a variety of exhibitions, workshops and storytelling sessions to mark the 11th anniversary.
HOUSES OF ARTISTS SHOWCASE
Visitors can expect 13 “Houses of Artists Showcase(s)”, each revolving around a different facet of art. Here is a list of some houses revealed by the Sikka Art and Design Platform.
- House #8: Architectural Heritage Society
- House #9: Al Bait Al Film
- House #10: Tashkeel
- House #13: Al Fahidi Arts & Culture Centre
- House #15: XVA
- House #17: Akaas (Visual Arts)
- House #22: Waleed Almadani, Noora Alneyadi, Shoug Abdulla, Zayed Ebrahim Al Haddar
- House #26: H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding
- House #27: Atelier Art & Sculpture
- House #28: Digital Art House
- House #35: Fatma Lootah’s Gallery
- House #42: Bait Alkhanyar Museum
- House #52: The Majlis Gallery
WORKSHOPS
Sikka Art Dubai 2023 will host over 150 workshops for both adults and kids. Here are some of the upcoming workshops at the festival.
FOR ADULTS
TYPE OF WORKSHOP | DATE | TIMINGS | TRAINER |
|---|---|---|---|
TYPE OF WORKSHOP Soap Making | DATE 1st March | TIMINGS 05:00 pm | TRAINER Saboona |
TYPE OF WORKSHOP Linocut | DATE 1st March | TIMINGS 06:00 pm | TRAINER Darrel Perkins |
TYPE OF WORKSHOP How to Make a Pinhole Camera | DATE 1st March | TIMINGS 07:30 pm | TRAINER Analog the Room |
- Please note: The aforementioned workshops will take place in House#11.
FOR KIDS
TYPE OF WORKSHOP | DATE | TIMINGS | TRAINER |
|---|---|---|---|
TYPE OF WORKSHOP Reverse Engineering | DATE 1st March | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 06:30 pm | TRAINER Studiyo Lab |
TYPE OF WORKSHOP Weaving | DATE 1st March | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 07:00 pm | TRAINER May Ali |
LIVE PERFORMANCES – SIKKA STAGE
Sikka Art Dubai will feature an array of live performances from a number of bands and singers, including:
- Laporte | 05:30 pm | 1st March
- Matar | 08:30 pm | 1st March
- Neil D’Cruz | 09:10 pm | 1st March
- Ammar Ashkar and Band | 10:00 pm | 1st March
TALKS – SIKKA SPEAKS
You can expect to listen to inspiring talks by industry leaders, artists and designers at the fair. Here is a list of some of the highly anticipated talks.
TALK | DATE | SPEAKER |
|---|---|---|
TALK The Spatial Internet and How It Defines Identity | DATE 1st March | SPEAKER Firas Saffieddine |
TALK The Triumphs and Tribulations of Independent Cinema | DATE 2nd March | SPEAKER bdullah Al Kaari, Nahla Al Fahad and Toni El Massin |
TALK Immersia: The Impact of Immersive Technology on Design and Architecture | DATE 4th March | SPEAKER Dr Georges Kachaamy |
- 9 indoor and outdoor art installations
- 6 murals
- 90 activities and screenings for kids
- Film screenings
- 30 vendors for food and beverage(s)
SIKKA ART DUBAI 2023 THEME
All artworks displayed will follow the theme for Sikka Art Dubai 2023 – ‘Celebrating Art, Celebrating Growth.’
SIKKA ART FAIR 2023 DATES AND TIMINGS
Sikka Art Fair will run for ten days. Here is a complete breakdown of the dates and timings of the festival.
DATE | DAY | TIMINGS |
|---|---|---|
DATE 24th February 2023 | DAY Friday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 12:00 am |
DATE 25th February 2023 | DAY Saturday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 12:00 am |
DATE 26th February 2023 | DAY Sunday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
DATE 27th February 2023 | DAY Monday | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
DATE 28th February 2023 | DAY Tuesday | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
DATE 1st March 2023 | DAY Wednesday | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
DATE 2nd March 2023 | DAY Thursday | TIMINGS 05:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
DATE 3rd March 2023 | DAY Friday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 12:00 am |
DATE 4th March 2023 | DAY Saturday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 12:00 am |
DATE 5th March 2023 | DAY Sunday | TIMINGS 04:00 pm – 12:00 am |
SIKKA ART FAIR LOCATION
Like always, the Sikka Art Fair will take place in the charming Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
GETTING THERE
There are plenty of ways for visitors to get to the Sikka Art Fair Dubai.
- Dubai Metro: Stop at Sharaf DG Metro Station (previously known as (Al Fahidi Metro Station) and walk down Al Musalla Road (D-89) towards Dubai Creek. The Sikka Art Festival location is approximately an 8-minute walk from there.
- Car: Head to Al Seef by Meraas, located near Dubai Creek. Park your car in the basement parking in the heritage section of Al Seef and walk to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Aside from these two options, you can choose other modes of public transportation in Dubai, such as abra.
FAQs ABOUT SIKKA ART FESTIVAL DUBAI
HOW CAN I GET THE LATEST UPDATES FOR SIKKA ART FAIR?
You can follow Sikka Art Fair’s official Instagram account: @sikkaplatform.
WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE SIKKA ART FESTIVAL 2023’S THEME?
The theme of this year is inspired by the Sidr tree which symbolises strength and fitness and is a part of the UAE’s heritage and culture.
ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING EVENTS IN DUBAI?
Yes, many! Here is a list of some of the exciting events in Dubai in 2023.
That brings an end to our guide to the Sikka Art Fair 2023. If art and design are your passion, you’ll find many art exhibitions in Dubai worth exploring. There are also Dubai’s best places for street art, which boast colourful and funky images that totally deserves a place on your Insta-feed!
For those who like to recount the days of yore, there are several historical places to visit and see in Dubai.
Which of Dubai’s upcoming events would you like us to cover next? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cover Image Credits: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Facebook Page
Please note: We will update our article as soon as more updates are announced by Sikka Art and Design Platform.
