Ministers of State for Happiness and Minister of State for Youth Witness the Fair Inauguration 
2016 edition features for the first time ever, GCC-based artists to showcase their artwork

Dubai, UAE; March 14, 2016:  Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) inaugurated the sixth edition of the SIKKA Art Fair, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture)’s flagship cultural initiative organised as part of Dubai Art Season 2016.

Hosting an exciting line-up of poetry recitals, workshops, improvisational performances, music, dance & plays, until March 24, 2016, the SIKKA art Fair will be featuring local and international talent at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Bur Dubai. The opening of the event witnessed an impressive level of participation from the public as well as regional cultural enthusiasts, while Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other high- profile attendees toured the fair. They were accompanied by the renowned Emirati Artist, Mattar Bin Lahej, who serves as curator for SIKKA Art Fair and Lubna Al Shamsi, Project Leader of Dubai Art Season and SIKKA Art Fair. 

In addition, the SIKKA art Fair welcomed a host of honourable dignitaries at its inauguration including Her Excellency Ohoud Bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness, and Her Excellency Shamma Bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth, Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai), Ahmad Bin Eisa Al Serkal, in addition to Saeed Al Naboodah, Acting Director General of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Dr. Salah Abdul Aziz Al Qassim, Advisor to the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. 
 
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: “Over the last five years, SIKKA Art Fair has become the definitive platform for Emirati and UAE-based artists and an inspirational art movement of the UAE that has extended in this year’s edition to GCC home grown talents. We are also glad to see the remarkable turnout of notable guests and visitors to Dubai Culture’ largest edition of the art showcase to date.”

Shiekha Latifa added: “The artist-led fair provides visitors with a fascinating glimpse into the city’s cultural scene, through featuring colorful commissioned programs of visual art projects, video art, music and live performances. We believe that SIKKA Art Fair will continue to represent a vital platform for emerging talents and will contribute to reinforcing Dubai’s position as a regional and global hub for creativity and innovation.  At current installation of SIKKA, we have included artists from across the GCC to showcase their works and provided them with the platform to reach wider international audience during Dubai Art Season 2016. At the same time, SIKKA continues its pivotal role to provide our UAE-based artists with a chance to gain exposure from their counterparts across the region”.

Opening its doors to the public on Sunday, March 13th, Dubai Culture’s SIKKA Art Fair facilitates a well-integrated platform for various performances and workshops across different artistic disciplines including music, visual and performing arts along with film and literature, with the artists bringing their distinct identity to Dubai’s performing arts scene.  

Various workshops covering all spectrums of art will be presented. These include Arabic calligraphy, animation, photography, hot glass drawing, 3D portraits and oil painting. Hosted by UAE Based collective industry organizations including the Animation Chamber, Chochoma Studio, Marsam Mattar, Architect Heritage Society, Precise, Room-Five Creative Facility, Dar Al Khatt, Abjad and NYU Abu Dhabi University, the activities are ideal for those looking to discover their own creative potential. 

SIKKA art fair aims to empower the youth’s positive energies and support their creative projects in line with the Emirate of Dubai’ vision 2021 and through Dubai’s Culture various artistic industry platforms.  For visitors, there is an eclectic selection of performances this year, ranging from traditional and folk to jazz and hip hop musical genres.

The initiative is the flagship event of the third Dubai Art Season, held under the patronage of her Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), and the umbrella arts initiative by Dubai Culture, which also includes Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai, Middle East Film and Comic Con, among others.