Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) is highlighting the rich culture of the emirate of Sharjah with a special focus on various museums at Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy, from June 7 to November 22, 2009.
Venice Biennale is one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world, which promotes new artistic trends by organising international events on contemporary arts for over a century. This year’s Biennale is themed ‘Fare Mondi’ – or ‘Making Worlds’.
Sharjah Museums Department is participating in the UAE pavilion, which includes exhibitors from government and establishments from all emirates. SMD is displaying two models of the most important architectural buildings in Sharjah – Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and Sharjah Art Museum.
Manal Ataya, Director General, Sharjah Museums Department, said: “Our participation in Venice Biennale comes as part of the cooperation with other government departments and corporations to continue to raise Sharjah’s profile locally, regionally and internationally.â€
“SMD continuously supports initiatives that aim at bridging gaps of communication between different cultures and civilizations,†added Ataya.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation is one of the prominent cultural landmarks in the emirate as it reflects the beauty of Arab architectural structures. The mission of the museum is to display, interpret, research and further develop the museum’s collections for a wide range of local, national and international audiences, and to stimulate knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of Islamic art, history, science and culture.
Sharjah Art Museum, opened in 1997, is the largest art museum in the Gulf with both temporary exhibitions and permanent collections by renowned artists. There are three floors of galleries dedicated to modern creative expression. Focusing on exhibitions and collections of over 300 works of art, visitors can watch graphic displays exhibiting an amazing array of styles and interpretations created by artists from the Arab world,
Venice Biennale is based at a park called the Giardini that houses 30 permanent national pavilions. The Giardini also includes a large exhibition hall that houses a themed exhibition.
The Sharjah Museums Department, established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, aims to promote the emirate’s rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture. For more information on Sharjah Museums Department, please visit the website www.sharjahmuseums.ae.
About Sharjah Museums Department
The Sharjah Museums Department was established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as an independent government department that aims to deliver the highest quality of museums for the people of Sharjah and all its visitors, through its facilities, exhibitions, and programmes of learning, research and community outreach.
Sharjah Museums have over 17 sites in Sharjah that cover the arts, Islamic culture, archeology, science, aquariums, heritage and natural history of Sharjah and the region
