Culture news around the UAE Big art installations, fairytales brought to life and an old theatre resurrected
SHARJAH
One of the courtyards of the houses of Sharjah Art Foundation has been transformed into a permanent art installation. It consists of circular craters filled with sea-water and once you step inside you can hear natural sounds as well as an Emirati rain song performed by children in Sharjah. It is eerie, emotional and certainly a cool addition to the Rain Room, which was the foundation’s first large-scale, sitespecific installation.
Bait Al Aboudi, Heart of Sharjah, Sat to Thurs, 9am to 9pm, Friday, 4pm to 9pm. Tel: (06) 5685050. sharjahart.org
SHARJAH
The Fairytales Come True: Worlds From the Imagination of Hans Christian Andersen is an interactive and experiential celebration of the writer’s life and work. Composed of several display rooms, this exhibition will be a combination of interactive Atelier M items, props, and technological solutions to bring Anderson’s works to life; in addition to high resolution copies and replicas of his portraits, drawings, papercuts, and more.
Until May 30
Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah. Sun to Thur 8am to 8pm, Fri 4pm to 8pm. Tel: (06) 5688222. sharjahmuseums.ae
RAS AL KHAIMAH
Over at Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village, the 8th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival is running with works from more than 100 artists from 33 countries. Under the theme of Connected Communities, the festival’s latest edition looks to celebrate the beauty of community spirit and the UAE’s own values of tolerance, inclusion and cooperation.
Until March 31
Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village, Ras Al Khamiah. Timings vary. Tel: (07) 233 8060. rakfinearts.ae
DUBAI
The theatre at Mall of Emirates is back. For a pilot period and under the management of Art For All, the theatre, which first opened in 2008 and closed in 2016 is now open until April, to gauge popularity. Highlights include Breakin Dance Convention – a festival of hip-hop dance theatre running in March and the extremely popular Sharmila Dance Extravaganza in April. Independent films will also be screened as well as workshops and classes for the body and the mind are on the agenda.
The Theatre, Mall of the Emirates. Tel: (050) 8805074. artforall.ae