Welcome to CIMAM, Sharjah Museums Authority!
Sharjah Museums Authority in the United Arab Emirates has recently joined CIMAM as an Institutional Member. The Sharjah Art Museum also takes part in CIMAM's Free Admission Program that embraces more than 200 modern and contemporary art institutions and biennials worldwide, that offer free admission to our members.
About the Sharjah Art Museum
The Sharjah Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the UAE. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1997 during the 3rd Sharjah Biennial. Since then it has been the main venue for Sharjah Biennial, the region’s largest renowned contemporary art biennial that commissions new works and shows the works of artists from around the world that practice in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, installation, film, photography, and performance. Today it continues to be one of the spaces utilized by the Biennial in each edition.
Being the first purpose built art museum in the Gulf region, the museum played a crucial role in highlighting and supporting the contemporary Arab & international art scene.
The building consists of 68 halls of various sizes covering a total area of approx. 11,000 square meters.
Housing permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, the Sharjah Art Museum presents works by international and Arab artists who have explored the history and culture of the region. Significant and numerous retrospectives were developed and shown over the past 20 years including Considering Dynamics & Forms of Chaos: Angela Bulloch and Maria Zerres, Drawings of Gibran: A Humane Perspective, Aida Muluneh: Homebound – A Journey in Photography, Fragrances of the Forests and Photos: Salah El-Mur, Mona Saudi: Poetry and Form, Andreas Gursky Retrospective (1994 – 2007). In addition to our exhibition series Lasting Impressions which is an annual show that highlights the life and works of prolific contemporary and modern Arab artists. Currently featuring the works of late Algerian artist Baya Mahieddine, previous editions have included: Abdulqader Al-Rais, Adam Henein, Ismail Shammout, and Tamam El-Akhal.
Over the years the museum has hosted several shows, in cooperation with other museums and cultural institutions including Tate Britain, Kahlil Gibran Museum, Cobra Museum, the Sharjah Africa Institute, Sharjah Art Foundation, Barjeel Art Foundation, Maeght Gallery, Ramzi, and Saeeda Dalloul Art Foundation to name a few.
Our vision is to be a cultural beacon that enhances Sharjah’s identity locally and internationally and contribute in nurturing a community aware of museums’ importance as a cultural, educational and enjoyable destination.
Our mission is to deliver the highest museum standards to preserve collections & enhance an appreciation of culture and learning through our exhibitions, educational and community programs.
About Institutional Membership
Institutional membership is available to museums, collections and organizations that are of museological relevance and have been open to the public for more than 5 years. They should be not for profit. They should demonstrate an appropriate governance structure in accordance with the ICOM definition of a museum, with key museum functions (collection, conservation, research, exhibition and mediation) undertaken by professionals.
Please read CIMAM’s membership criteria.