Sharjah Art Foundation invites participants to join free intensive summer courses exploring urban memory, research and creative writing.
24 June 2026
Open Call:
Sharjah Art Foundation invites university students, emerging artists, writers, cultural practitioners, and anyone interested in contemporary art and culture to register for the latest edition of Semi-systems, a series of intensive summer courses that explore how art shapes and reflects the world around us.
Held at The Flying Saucer in Sharjah, the programme brings together participants and leading artists, writers, and researchers in a collaborative learning environment focused on research, critical thinking, writing, and cultural interpretation.
Institutional Context:
Semi-systems is an educational initiative developed by Sharjah Art Foundation, a leading contemporary arts organisation in the Gulf region. The programme encourages participants to investigate visual and cultural material through diverse methodologies, drawing from architecture, literature, archives, photography, performance, and other fields.
Sharjah Art Foundation supports contemporary artistic production, research, and public engagement through year-round exhibitions, educational programmes, commissions, grants, residencies, and international events such as the Sharjah Biennial and March Meeting. Established in 2009, the Foundation plays a central role in fostering contemporary art discourse locally, regionally, and internationally.
Eligibility and Criteria:
The programme is open to:
- University students
- Emerging artists
- Writers
- Cultural practitioners
- Members of the public interested in contemporary art and culture
No prior academic, artistic, or professional experience is required.
Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the course or courses they register for.
Evaluation Process:
Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis. No formal application review or selection process is outlined. Participants who register are expected to fully participate in their chosen course sessions.
Practical Information:
Venue: The Flying Saucer, Dasman, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Course Format: Weekend evening sessions
Course 1
Reading Sharjah: Tracing Urban Memory
- Dates: 26 to 28 June 2026
- Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Language: Arabic
Participants will explore Sharjah’s urban landscape, uncovering stories embedded in buildings and public spaces while developing tools to document and interpret the city.
Course 2
Small Sources, Wide Waters: Writing Stories from the Gulf
- Dates: 10 to 12 July 2026
- Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Languages: English and Arabic
Participants will engage with archives, personal narratives, and local knowledge to experiment with storytelling approaches that illuminate broader cultural and social histories of the Arabian Gulf.
Cost: Free of charge
Applications and Queries:
Registration is currently open.
For further information and registration details, applicants should visit sharjahart.org.
