Sharjah to host traditional crafts forum

Sharjah: The 10th edition of The Traditional Crafts Forum 2016 is set to take place from January 18-19 at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. The forum will be held under the title ‘Knitting and Embroidery in the UAE’.

Organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the popular two-day event has, over the last decade, proven to be a significant platform for discussing the prospects and issues facing the handicrafts industry and the need to safeguard the sector to highlight the UAE’s vibrant heritage.

With a number of prominent UAE institutions such as the Islamic Forum (Al Muntada Al Islami) and the National Archives in Abu Dhabi all confirming their participation, this year’s forum will also welcome many eminent thinkers, researchers, and scholars to the podium. Vital issues and topics ranging from the historical context of conserving cultural practices, to their relevance in and for the UAE’s future generations, will be presented over the course of the two-day event.

Commenting on the forum’s 2016 edition, Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said: “The Heritage Handicrafts Forum 2016 aims to build on previous successes and continue to shed light on how the craft of knitting and embroidery is an integral element of the UAE’s history and its folklore.”

This year’s forum will also include a variety of heritage activities for visitors to take part in. These include a specialised seminar and exhibition that will display indigenous arts and crafts of the UAE. The exhibition element will be held over a total of four sessions – two on each day of the forum.

Under the title ‘Heritage Crafts in the UAE - Realities and Future Prospects’, the seminar will include a live demonstration on handicrafts, knitting and embroidery, along with active participation of artisans, experts and consultants from all over the world.