DUBAI: H.H. Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), officially inaugurated SIKKA 2013, the Authority’s contemporary artist-led fair in Dubai.

The fair is held in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, which served as centre of the city in the past. 24th March, SIKKA 2013 features works from 70+ Emirati artists, and 14 multi-disciplinary initiatives and collectives, an array of special projects, workshops, panel discussions, live music and entertainment, film screenings, performances and a children’s educational programme, in addition to guided and self-led tours.

The SIKKA will last 11 days, visitors can discover over 45 new works on display and experience a diverse selection of interactive projects and hands-on workshops, shedding light on Dubai’s alternative arts and cultural scene.

H.H Sheikh Majed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Dubai’s cultural scene is witnessing incredible growth and the city has evolved as one of the world’s leading hubs for fine arts today. SIKKA stands apart in the arts sector of Dubai with its focus on promoting Emiratis and UAE-based artists. Over the past three years, the contemporary art fair has served as a platform to highlight the rich talent in our country. With the largest showcase of works, performances, and community-centric initiatives to date, SIKKA will continue to build on Dubai’s rich artistic identity and promote intercultural dialogue.” With numerous acts scheduled each day, SIKKA’s commissioned musicians will take the stage with their most recent creations. These include: As per Casper; Beatbox Ray; Fables of Cantt; Gayathri; Harrison Rice; Jabbar; Layla Lacole; Liminal Roots; Nada Dada; Regal Beats; Sach Holden; Shay; Swerte; THEM;’ and Valentin Spasov, in addition to performances from Imagyne, Paul D, and Star TOO.

Works by up-and-coming filmmakers include Amal Agroobi’s 90% Psyche; Anushka Anand’s Lonely @ Night; Camille Mallat’s SIKKA Photo Booth; Hania Ansari’s My Heart My Fellow Traveler; Mohammed Al Marzouqi’s Travelling Through Time; and Salma El-Shami’s Shiddi ?eilek.

This year will also have a special house dedicated to design, comprising young designers exploring the medium beyond the commercial context. These include: Khalid Mezaina; Layan Attari; M?bius Design Studio; Nada AlYafaei; Talin Hazbar; and Tulip Hazbar.

All visits and activities at SIKKA 2013 are open to the public. Participation is free of charge; however registration is required for workshops due to limited seating.

SIKKA 2013 will be held concurrently with Art Week, Dubai’s premier umbrella arts initiative encompassing of Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai.

With cultural events like SIKKA Dubai can be promoted more than just a shopping or desert safari destination for the tourists around the world.