The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has announced an open call for participation in the 14th Sikka Art and Design Festival. This year’s festival will take place under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, from January 23 to February 1 in the historic Shindagha district.

The festival aims to provide an innovative platform that brings together various forms of art while celebrating both emerging and established talents from residents and citizens of the UAE and the Gulf countries. The initiative seeks to enrich Dubai’s artistic scene, enhancing the emirate’s status as a global cultural hub and a nurturing ground for creativity and talent.

Dubai Culture is inviting individuals and groups from various creative disciplines, including visual arts, design, new media, photography, public art, installations, ceramics, performing arts, and urban culture, to participate in the festival. This initiative aligns with the “Quality of Life in Dubai” strategy.

Sikka serves as an open platform for professional performers, workshops, culinary arts, and speakers in discussion sessions, as well as specialized retailers in creative and cultural products. The festival encourages these contributors to enhance the local cultural scene and bolster the emirate’s position as a global center for the creative economy.

The authority began accepting participation applications yesterday, which will continue until September 1. A team of specialized curators will review submissions and select qualifying works for the event under the Sikka platform. Participants are required to submit original and contemporary works that reflect their visions and the richness of the local community, ensuring that all entries have not been previously produced or showcased at other festivals or events.

It is noteworthy that the previous edition of the festival attracted over 160 000 visitors and included participation from more than 364 artists from the UAE, Gulf, and across the world, showcasing around 390 artworks and installations spread across 16 houses and 14 outdoor spaces. The event featured 13 murals that exhibited diverse ideas and captured the essence of Dubai’s heritage and culture.

The festival also showcased a variety of innovative sculptures and displayed approximately 45 artworks and installations that support the “Art in Public Places” strategy, while hosting over 460 workshops covering fields such as arts, design, architecture, and traditional crafts, with participation from more than 6 000 visitors.

In its last edition, the Sikka Festival featured 105 live performances, including 18 theatrical shows, seven orchestral performances, and nine piano recitals. The “Cooking House” presented seven artistic works inspired by saffron, providing a perfect platform for talented individuals to showcase their innovative creations through more than 17 retail outlets, supporting and empowering over 50 entrepreneurs.