Kalba Ice Factory is a gallery and art space in Kalba, Sharjah, a city on the East Coast of the United Arab Emirates. The 20,000 square-metre building was constructed by renovating a derelict feed mill and ice factory. It was opened to the public on the 8 February 2023, the opening timed to house Sharjah Biennial 15.
Kalba Ice Factory was originally constructed in the 1970s as a fish feed mill and then used as an ice production and storage facility by local fishermen, [1] allowing fish caught on Kalba's extensive coastline to be transported to Dubai for sale. [2] It fell into dereliction until the shell of the building was bought by Sharjah Art Foundation in 2015. [3]
The development of the ice factory includes a series of six apartments, social spaces and a 200 square-metre workshop as well as a branch of the Foundation's Fen Café. [3] Inaugurated by the ruler of Sharjah, Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, [4] it has since been called 'a testament to the power of adaptive reuse and preservation.' [5]
The Ice Factory was used as an informal venue for two previous Sharjah Biennial events, an exhibition by Argentinian sculptor Adrian Villar Rojas titled Planetarium during Biennial 12 in 2015, and a 2019 performance by South African film maker Mohau Modisakeng, Land of Zanj, during Sharjah Biennial 14. [3] Sharjah Art Foundation commissioned Peruvian architects 51-1 Arquitectos in 2017 to refurbish the derelict buildings as a permanent art space [2] and construction started in 2020. [1]
Kalba Ice Factory is situated by Khor Kalba (Kalba Creek) and overlooks the Al Qurm Nature Reserve, [6] a mangrove and wildlife sanctuary that is an important area of biodiversity and home to endangered species including the Arabian-Collared Kingfisher, the Blandford's lizard and endangered hawksbill and green turtles which nest on the nearby beach. [7]
The Kalba Ice Factory project is one of a number of 1970s and '80s buildings under restoration by Sharjah Art Foundation and the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, including the Flying Saucer; the Jubail Vegetable Market; the 1970s Khor Fakkan Cinema, being redeveloped as a music school, and a pyramid-roofed kindergarten, being made into a community centre. [8]
The Emirate of Sharjah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates, which covers 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi) and has a population of over 1,400,000 (2015). It comprises the capital city of Sharjah, after which it is named, and other minor towns and exclaves such as Kalba', Al Dhaid, Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan.
Khor Fakkan is a city and exclave of the Emirate of Sharjah, located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), facing the Gulf of Oman, and geographically surrounded by the Emirate of Fujairah. The city, the second largest on the east coast after Fujairah City, is set on the bay of Khor Fakkan, which means "Creek of Two Jaws". It is the site of Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the UAE. The Port of Khor Fakkan faces the Emirate of Sharjah’s eastern seaboard, extending connections with Asia and the Far East. This port is one of the Emirate’s three ports.
Kalba is a city in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is an exclave of Sharjah lying on the Gulf of Oman coast north of Oman. Khor Kalba, an important nature reserve and mangrove swamp, is located south of the town by the Omani border.
Lisson Gallery is a contemporary art gallery with locations in London and New York, founded by Nicholas Logsdail in 1967. The gallery represents over 50 artists such as Art & Language, Ryan Gander, Carmen Herrera, Richard Long, John Latham, Sol LeWitt, Robert Mangold, Jonathan Monk, Julian Opie, Richard Wentworth, Anish Kapoor, Richard Deacon and Ai Weiwei.
The University of Sharjah is an Emirati private national university located in University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was established in October 1997 by its founder the ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi to meet the emirate of Sharjah's aim of educational needs. The university goals constitute of becoming a leading academic institution in the Middle East and around the world. In addition to its main campus in Sharjah City, the university has built campus facilities to provide education,training, and research programs directly to several communities throughout the emirate, GCC, Arab countries, and internationally. Most significantly, the university plays an important role in the socioeconomic development of the emirate of Sharjah.
UAE First Division League is the second tier of football league competition in the United Arab Emirates.
Sharjah is the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.
The Sharjah Biennial is a large-scale contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The first Sharjah Biennial took place in 1993, and was organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information until it is reorientation in 2003 by Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi.
The Sharjah Art Foundation is a contemporary art and cultural foundation based in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, founded in 2009 by Hoor Al Qasimi, daughter of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and current ruler of Sharjah, to support artists and artistic practice in the Sharjah communities, the UAE, and the region via different platforms that include Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, art residencies, production grants, commissions, art exhibitions, artistic research and publications. The foundation include exhibitions featuring the work of Arab and international artists, performances, music, film screenings, artist talks, and educational for a range or audience from children to adults. The Sharjah Art foundation strives to promote public learning and participating in art practices.
Adrián Villar Rojas is an Argentinian sculptor known for his elaborate fantastical works which explore notions of the Anthropocene and the end of the world. In his dream like installations he uses aspects of drawing, sculpture, video and music to create immersive situations in which the spectator is confronted with ideas and images of their imminent extinction.
The Heart of Sharjah is a cultural heritage project that aims to preserve and restore the old town of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and return it to its 1950s state.
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, also known as Shurooq, is responsible for the development of the Emirate of Sharjah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an investment, tourism, and business destination.
Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre is a wildlife reserve and visitor centre located west of the coastal town of Kalba in the Emirate of Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 2019–20 UAE President's Cup was the 44th edition of the UAE President's Cup, a football cup competition of the United Arab Emirates. The winner will qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League. The tournament was cancelled along with the rest of the UAE league season.
The Flying Saucer in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, is a 1978 building constructed in Brutalist style and originally opened as a café, restaurant, newsstand, gift shop and pharmacy. It was subsequently a Lal's supermarket from 1988 to 1997. It has been restored by Sharjah Art Foundation and is now open as a community art space.
Shees Park is a recreational park near the village of Shis in Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.
Kalba Fort is an 18th century fort located inland of the coastal city of Kalba on the eastern seaboard of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was restored as a museum and visitor attraction in April 2021.
Kalba Mangrove reserve is a natural reserve to a protected natural mangrove forest located in Kalba, Sharjah. Conservation efforts around the mangrove have sought to protect the declining populations of white-collared kingfisher birds that inhabit the area.
The 2022–23 UAE President's Cup will be the 46th edition of the UAE President's Cup, Sharjah are the defending champions after beating Al Wahda in the final last season. This season will see a new competition format where all clubs from both Pro League and First Division compete in the knockout stage from the round of 32 to the final, the defending champions Sharjah will get a bye to the round of 16. The reason behind this is to cut schedule after the final of last season was postponed due to the Play off match against Australia.
The Al Suhub Rest House is a tourist attraction in Khor Fakkan, on the East Coast of the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Located on top of mountains overlooking the city, and forming its highest point, the circular building offers panoramic views of Khor Fakkan and the Gulf of Oman.