Running until 9 February, the festival features over 450 workshops and talks covering arts, design, architecture, visual storytelling, and traditional crafts. The event supports the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy, ensuring a rich cultural experience for attendees. The festival’s sessions are led by industry experts and artists, offering valuable insights and practical training. Al Shindagha Museum, the UAE’s largest heritage museum, has been transformed into a dynamic hub for creativity.

Sikka Art & Design Festival : Hands-On Artistic Workshops

The festival offers workshops tailored to various creative disciplines. Emerging City is hosting Gypsum Art, where participants explore gypsum carving techniques. The Traditional Jewellery House presents Jewellery Making: Marriyah (Necklace), providing hands-on experience in crafting traditional ornaments.

Visitors at the People and Faith House can join Henna Stencil and Prayer Bead Crafting sessions. The Traditional Crafts House introduces Spindle, a workshop on hand-weaving using traditional tools.

At House 355 – Masterpieces, creativity takes center stage with Graffiti Art: Express Yourself with Spray Paint, where participants learn graffiti fundamentals from a professional artist. House 341 – Realiity House offers Doodles & AI, transforming simple sketches into digital art using artificial intelligence. The Glitch Art session explores creative distortions inspired by digital effects.

Workshops at House 314 by Sxill Lab include Handmade Tile Making and Cheese Board Design. Meanwhile, House 326 – Sikka Platform presents sustainability-focused sessions such as Sustainability Now: Eco-Friendly Solutions and Perfume Making for Adults. At House 15, Tashkeel hosts modern printing workshops like Hand Printing on Bags and Riso Printing.

Sikka Art & Design Festival : Music, Writing, and Storytelling

At House 196 – Urban House by The Workshop DXB, singer Shilpa Ananth leads Unlocking Authenticity: The Psychology of Songwriting. The session delves into emotional and experiential influences on songwriting, helping participants refine their music composition skills.

The Merin Pavilion hosts Letters to the City: Writing Public Spaces, where attendees reflect on meaningful locations in Dubai by writing personalized messages dedicated to them.

Inspiring Talks and Creative Discussions

The festival includes Sikka Speaks, a dedicated space featuring leading creatives discussing industry trends. Highlights include:

• Creative Minds: Art Therapy for Young Explorers – Art therapist Caline Boghos guides children through therapeutic practices and imaginative play.
• Immersive Magic: Where Art, Music, and Technology Transform Experiences – A panel featuring Anna Lebedeva, Jalal Luqman, Maryam Al Obeidli, Denis Rosiev, Evgenia Romanidi, and Nicholas Mann, moderated by Elias Attallah.
• Decoding Humour: The Art of Multicultural Comedy in Dubai – Featuring comedians Shadi Jad and Saniya Abbas, moderated by Liz Baines.
• Artistic Intervention in Satwa: Tracing Urban Nostalgia – A discussion led by Khalil Abdulwahid and Karim Jabbari.
• Go Global! International Opportunities & Strategies for Dubai-Based Artists – Moderated by Sophie Mayuko, featuring Sanaz Askari, Giuseppe Moscatello, and Behrang Samadzadkan.

A Collaborative Effort

The festival is organized in partnership with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, and the Emirates Council for Rural Development. This collaborative effort ensures a world-class platform for artists, designers, and cultural enthusiasts.

With an extensive lineup of workshops, talks, and exhibitions, Sikka Art & Design Festival 2025 continues to establish Dubai as a leading creative and cultural hub.

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Elisée’s early creations found their canvas in urban environments, particularly within industrial wastelands and suburban areas in Lille, where his work breathed new life into these unconventional spaces. He deftly blended graphic elements, embracing the interplay of speed, volume, and light to create visual symphonies that resonated with viewers. His work, a fusion of figurative abstract, 3D, and wild style, was a testament to his mastery of the primary tool that has defined his career: spray paint.

As a visionary artist, Skayzoo Elisée continued to evolve his creative expression. He ventured into more traditional painting techniques, where a revelation unfolded with watercolors. This medium, distinct from the familiarity of aerosols, proved to be a captivating new horizon for his artistic exploration. This transition marked a pivotal moment in his artistic journey, as he embraced a new means of artistic expression, revealing the depth and breadth of his creativity.

Elisée’s journey is a testament to his relentless pursuit of artistic growth and innovation. He constantly seeks to expand his horizons, exploring new mediums and styles, perpetually pushing the boundaries of his creativity. His passion for art remains unwavering, and his commitment to self-expression knows no bounds.

Skayzoo Elisée’s art is a dynamic representation of the transformative power of creativity. It demonstrates that true artists are not constrained by a single medium or style but are always in pursuit of new avenues of expression. His journey through the world of art is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of artistic innovation, reminding us that the creative spirit knows no limits.

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Bond Truluv’s artistry is characterized by his mastery of calligraphy and his constant reinvention of the letters that make up his distinctive moniker. With precision and skill, he crafts visually captivating graffiti pieces that blend seamlessly into their surroundings, elevating them from mere wall art to immersive installations. What sets his work apart is the deliberate use of light effects, which adds depth and dimensionality to his creations, resulting in an awe-inspiring visual experience.

His artistic journey has allowed him to transcend borders, and his works can be found gracing walls in various cities and landscapes around the world. From vibrant urban environments to serene natural settings, Bond Truluv’s graffiti art brings life and vibrancy to every location it touches. His ability to seamlessly integrate his pieces into their surroundings showcases his deep understanding of the interaction between art and its environment.

Bond Truluv’s impact extends beyond the realm of graffiti art, as his work serves as a bridge between cultures and communities. Through his art, he creates a visual language that transcends linguistic barriers, connecting people from diverse backgrounds through a shared appreciation for his captivating creations. His ability to bring together various artistic elements in a harmonious and visually striking manner has solidified his status as a globally recognized artist.

In the world of graffiti art, Bond Truluv has carved a unique niche for himself, captivating audiences with his reinvention of letters and his skillful manipulation of light and space. His ability to transform walls into immersive experiences demonstrates his artistic vision and dedication to pushing the boundaries of traditional graffiti. With each new creation, Bond Truluv continues to inspire and leave an indelible mark on the global street art scene.

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The festival features commissioned and previously unexhibited graffiti art from over 30 Saudi and international graffiti artists, concentrating on murals, sound and video installations, and unusual sculptures created by recycling materials from the defunct hospital.

“Shift22 is part of the commission’s efforts to honor and nurture local and worldwide visual artists by offering spaces for creative interaction and debate,” said Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission. This event is only one of the many interesting opportunities in the visual arts that have arisen as a result of the expanding local art scene.

In keeping with the tradition of decorating underground and derelict locations with graffiti, the festival is held in the former hospital.

The focus of the outdoor display was geometric patterns in order to reflect the hospital’s architectural style, and it was organized by the New York-based artistic agency Creative Philosophy.

The festival will exhibit works by well-known and up-and-coming artists, like Saudi REXCHOUK and Turkish-American Refik Anadol, in addition to workshops, conferences, and other events showcasing the various aspects of street art.

Along with live music, streetwear stores, street cuisine, breakdancing, and skateboarding, the festival will last through October 30.

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