The SIKKA Art Fair is an annual event created by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in 2011 as a commissioned art exhibition to showcase emerging artists from the United Arab Emirates. [1] Originally focused on visual arts only but later widened its scope to cover film screenings, music, talks and workshops. Sikka takes place in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (al Bastakiya), The Arabic word sikka means alleyway. [2]
In its tenth iteration in 2022, Sikka expanded its scope to encompass a broader array of multidisciplinary practices, compared to its predecessors. This edition places a significant emphasis on design-oriented initiatives and technology-driven artworks. Moreover, Sikka introduced more immersive installations that combine multimedia elements, including video and photography, with research-based projects.
As of today, the Sikka Art and Design Festival has held 12 editions. The first edition took place in 2011, while the twelfth edition was held in February 2024 in the historic Al Shindagha district. [3]
The first edition took place from March 14 to March 21. [4]
For its second edition, the festival featured a selection of artists showcasing works in photography, mixed-media installations, and multimedia projects. [5] Some of the selected artists included:
The 2013 edition took place from March 14 to March 24. [6]
The 2014 festival was curated jointly by Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, founder of FN Design, and Japanese architect Kayoko Limura, assisted by Yusaka Imamura. [7] Initially scheduled for March 14-24, it was later extended until April 14. [8]
The fifth edition (March 14-24, 2015) was curated by Jalal Luqman and featured a diverse group of Emirati and UAE-based artists, along with three art collectives and two art initiatives. Featured artists included:
This edition marked the official start of Dubai’s second art season, a major initiative by Dubai Culture, which also includes Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai. [9] [10]
The 2022 edition highlighted the festival’s visual identity, represented by the "Sidra Al Fahidi" tree, a symbol of the Sikka artists’ community. The festival took place from March 15 to March 25. [11]
The 2023 exhibition attracted more than 120,000 visitors, who followed the creations of more than 200 artists and creators who decorated the rooms and walls of the houses of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood with their artistic productions, and interacted with dozens of workshops, panel discussions, entertainment and musical performances that took place during this year's edition of the festival. [12]
The 2024 exhibition saw the launch of 10 outdoor installations in the corridors of the historic neighbourhood of Al Shindagha and the display of 8 diverse murals, in addition to more than 100 artworks spread across 14 houses across the festival, each presenting different types of art, installations and digital works, sculptures and various interactive spaces. In addition, the festival offered more than 200 workshops and panel discussions. [13]
Expo 2025 was held from 31 January to 9 February in the historic neighbourhood of Al Shindagha as part of the Dubai Quality of Life strategy. More than 350 artworks and installations representing the work of Emirati and resident artists and young people from the UAE and the Gulf countries were exhibited. [14]
The 11th edition of the Sikka Art and Design Festival, held from February 24 to March 5, achieved new milestones and record-breaking numbers. The festival welcomed over 120,000 visitors and featured more than 200 artists and creatives, who adorned the walls of the Al Fahidi Historic District with their artistic expressions. In addition to the stunning artworks, the festival offered workshops, discussion panels, live performances, and musical shows, enriching the overall experience. [15]
Under the slogan "Art Starts from a New Path", Sikka Art and Design Festival kicked off from the heart of the historic Shindagha neighbourhood from February 23 to March 3, 2024. The exhibition was opened by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and member of the Dubai Council, where she met with a number of Emirati, Gulf and other artists residing in the UAE. [16]