Dubai Culture Launches Open Call for 13th Sikka Art & Design Festival

: The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is pleased to announce the open call for the 13th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival. Under the esteemed patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, the festival is set to take place from 31 January to 9 February 2025 at the historic Al Shindagha Neighbourhood.

Dubai Culture invites Emirati, UAE, and GCC-based artists, creatives, and designers to showcase their talents in a variety of mediums, including visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, murals, multimedia, and culinary arts. The festival will also feature interactive workshops, musical and cinematic performances, talks, and panel discussions, all aimed at enriching the local cultural scene and aligning with global art trends.

Applications open on 8 August and will be accepted until 8 October 2024. A panel of experts and artists will then review submissions to select the works that will be featured in the festival, under the Sikka Platform. The open call is open to both established and emerging artists in the UAE and GCC, who are encouraged to present unique and innovative ideas that reflect the richness of the local art scene. Applicants are also encouraged to use environmentally friendly materials and ensure that their works are original and have not been previously exhibited.

Details and the application form can be accessed via the Dubai Culture website here.

Through this festival, Dubai Culture aims to create a vibrant platform that celebrates both established and emerging talents, supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming a global cultural hub and incubator for creativity.

The previous edition of the festival attracted over 162,000 visitors and featured 500 Emirati and GCC-based artists showcasing around 300 artworks. We look forward to an even more successful event in 2025.