Sharjah: The ninth edition of annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2017) concluded on Saturday, with 306,000 visitors crossing its threshold over its 11 days.
The literary festival and book fair for children and young people, which was held at Expo Centre Sharjah from April 19 to 29, saw a total of 990 school visits from across the country, with teachers and students alike keen to experience its rich programme of events and activities.
Themed ‘Discover Beyond,’ SCRF 2017 proved a top attraction for schools and educational institutions wanting to provide their pupils with an inspiring and intellectually stimulating day out.
Ahmad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority said that this edition of SCRF exemplified the excellent relations that children have with their books, as well as afforded the perfect platform for individuals, publishers and distributors to showcase their array of literary products and services.
“Over its 11 days, the festival created a vibrant atmosphere for all those who attended; children and adults, students and teachers. SCRF 2017 was an outright success in its aim to boost children’s intellectual abilities, develop their talents and inspire them to discover more,” he said.
Al Ameri added that year after year, SCRF furthers the implementation of the vision and directives of His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and is being supported by his wife Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, to nurture the imagination and ambitions of the UAE’s children and to raise young generations who are equipped with the skills to lead the country.
SCRF 2017 saw the participation of 123 exhibitors who displayed their wares across its total area space of 2,304 sqm. Hosting 179 guests from across the world, SCRF 2017 featured 2,093 cultural, artistic, recreational and educational activities under its ‘Kids Activities,’ ‘Cultural Activities’ and ‘Cookery Corner’ programmes.
The festival also held the sixth edition of the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustrations Exhibition, which featured 303 works by 90 literary artists from across the world, rewarding the talents of the most creative.
A main draw at this year’s SCRF was a special exhibition titled ‘Brain: The Inside Story.’ Organised by the American Museum of Natural History, the interactive installation took festivalgoers on a neurological journey and provided an illuminating insight into the workings of the human brain, the complex product of millions of years of evolution.
The concluding day of SCRF 2017 saw the announcement of the winners of the school student competition ‘Best Written Report,’ which encouraged visiting pupils to test their skills as critics by reviewing one of the festival’s many seminars.
Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is one of the main activities in Sharjah Book Authority’s calendar of cultural activities, with the organisation forming a main strand of Sharjah’s drive to become the foremost cultural hub in the region.
