Sharjah Art Foundation has announced an exciting Autumn 2025 programme that reinforces its status as a global cultural hub. From pioneering solo exhibitions to the launch of new public art spaces, the season is set to celebrate creativity in every form.

Regional Firsts and Global Collaborations

This year’s highlights include the first institutional solo exhibitions in the region by renowned artists Afra Al Dhaheri, Leda Catunda, and Rachid Koraichi.

• Afra Al Dhaheri’s exhibition invites viewers to explore time through repetition and layering in her textured mixed-media works.
• Leda Catunda, known for fusing graphic design and soft sculpture, brings her colourful, tactile pieces spanning four decades in a regional debut co-organised with Halle für Kunst Steiermark (Graz), before travelling to Austria in 2026.
• Rachid Koraichi’s major survey spans 50 years of his mystic-inspired artistic journey, exploring signs, symbols and cultural legacies through immersive installations.

Cultural Landmarks Come to Life

For the first time since its restoration, Kalba Ice Factory on the East Coast will showcase an extensive presentation of works from the Foundation’s permanent collection, offering art lovers a new reason to explore the scenic venue.

Two new initiatives also take centre stage this November:

• A photography gallery in Al Manakh, housed in a former telecoms building, debuts with a curated selection of the Foundation’s photography archive.
• Al Majarrah Park, adjacent to the Rain Room, reopens with a playful redesign by artist collective Superflex, in collaboration with architects and local residents, creating an engaging public art experience.

A Season of Cinema, Performance and Print

Returning this autumn are the Foundation’s celebrated annual events:

• Perform Sharjah, expanding across the emirate and into Khorfakkan, brings together theatre, performance art and community experiences in unexpected venues.
• The Sharjah Film Platform returns for its eighth edition with UAE premieres of independent and experimental films, competing for the prestigious SFP Awards.
• Focal Point, the Foundation’s international art book fair, will showcase boundary-pushing publishers, zines, workshops and design events, plus two new book launches.

A Soundtrack to the Season

This year’s music programme will include concerts, listening sessions, and a conference on maritime music from the Western Indian Ocean, further exploring the region’s cultural connections. Traditional and experimental musicians from across the world will converge in Sharjah to share performances and stories.