Dubai Culture announces jury for SIKKA 2020

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) today announces the jury for SIKKA Art Festival 2020. Ghassan Salameh, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Giuseppe Moscatello andLisa Ball-Lechgar will be the jurors for the 10th anniversary edition of the annual arts festival. Collectively, they will be responsible for selecting the artists and designers to take part in the festival and having an impact on the overall aesthetic of the festival. After closely evaluating the submissions received during an open call from UAE-based practitioners, the jury will determine the strongest proposals that will have the biggest impact in transforming the houses inside Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, into interactive and engaging art and design installations.

Ghassan Salameh is a product designer, design researcher, educator, consultant and urban activist. Currently, he is the guest curator for Dubai Design Week 2019, where his work is presented in a design research exhibition titled Madar, creating awareness around the different components and stakeholders that constitute design.

Shaikha Al Mazrou is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work uses bold and industrial materials such as metal and glass. Her work is in several prominent UAE collections and she has a commissioned art piece in the garden of Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai.

Giuseppe Moscatello is a cultural developer with over 15 years of extensive experience in the UAE and Italy. He was co-founder of Maraya Art Centre, 1971 Design Space, Maraya Art Park and the Jedaryia initiative in Sharjah and now has his own cultural agency.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar is Deputy Director of Tashkeel, a contemporary art and design centre in Dubai founded by Director, Lateefa bint Maktoum. Tashkeel is a studio hub for emerging artists and is a regular collaborator with Dubai Culture. Ball-Lechgar has lectured on contemporary Arab art and cultural management worldwide.

SIKKA Art Festival 2020 will be the 10th edition of the festival. The festival welcomes artists across the spectrum of visual arts, performing arts, music and film, with the 2020 edition aiming to feature a greater number of outdoor installations and activations, transforming Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood's alleyways and courtyards. SIKKA also features a programme of free, adult and children’s workshops, as well as home-grown food vendors. SIKKA Art Festival will take place from 19th to 29th March 2020.

Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) said: “SIKKA is a platform for emerging talent across the region. It is part of our mission at Dubai Culture to establish the city as a global centre for art and culture, an incubator for creativity and thriving hub for talent; SIKKA is an embodiment of those three mandates. Our prestigious jury has been chosen for their individual expertise in art and design as well as their collective strength. We are confident that together, they will make the optimal selection to allow us to reach our artistic visions for the 10th anniversary of our annual festival, so that we can all celebrate this milestone together.”