Dubai Culture has announced an open call for the 13th Sikka Art & Design Festival.

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the launch of the Open Call for the 13th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival. The festival will take place from January 31st to February 9th, 2025, at Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture.

Dubai Culture is inviting Emirati and UAE & GCC-based artists, creatives, and designers to participate in the festival with their diverse works in visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, murals, multimedia, culinary art, and more.

The festival will include interactive workshops, musical and cinematic performances, talks, and panel discussions aimed at enriching the local cultural movement and supporting global art sector trends.

Applications for participation will be accepted from 8th August until the deadline on 8th October. A committee of experts and artists will review the applications and select the works eligible for the festival, which falls under the umbrella of the Sikka Platform.

The open call is targeting both established and emerging artists in the UAE and the GCC, whether working individually or as part of a group.

Participants are required to present unique ideas reflecting their perspectives and the richness of the local art scene, use environmentally friendly materials in their artworks, and ensure that the works are original, recent, and have not been produced for or displayed in other festivals and events before. Creatives interested in participating in the upcoming festival can find all details and access the application form on the Authority’s website.

Through the Sikka Art & Design Festival, Dubai Culture aims to provide an innovative platform that brings together various types of arts and celebrates leading and emerging talent and young artists from or residing in the UAE and the GCC. This aligns with Dubai's cultural vision to make the emirate a global center for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.

The 12th edition of the festival successfully attracted over 162,000 visitors who viewed the collection of works that adorned the houses of Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood. Visitors engaged with the artistic and entertainment performances, workshops, and discussion sessions held throughout the 10-day festival.

The event also saw the participation of over 500 Emirati and UAE & GCC-based artists who showcased around 300 different artworks in multiple forms across 14 houses.