Sharjah Creative Quarter enhances Sharjah’s culture: Hoor Al Qasimi

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

 Sharjah has announced a new landmark project, Sharjah Creative Quarter (SCQ), designed by award-winning architectural firm Taller de Arquitectura - Mauricio Rocha in collaboration with Daniel Rosselló. The ground-breaking project will serve as a distinguished destination for artistes, creatives and intellectuals from both within and outside the country, offering them a platform to showcase their talents and exchange knowledge and experiences with others.

Strategically positioned in Sharjah's epicentre for educational prominence and innovation, adjacent to landmark developments such as the House of Wisdom, the American University of Sharjah, and the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, the Sharjah Creative Quarter will foster a vibrant community for innovators and creative minds.

Earlier, His Highness Dr. SheikhSultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree establishing the Sharjah Creative Quarter project and appointed Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Art Foundation, as its head.

The Sharjah Creative Quarter will comprise diverse and integrated buildings, creating a vibrant hub for creativity and innovation. This dynamic space will foster a community of talented individuals, offering them the freedom to transform their ideas into tangible reality.

Key components of the Sharjah Creative Quarter will include:

• Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Collection, a museum showcasing a captivating selection of art and historical artefacts from the personal collection of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Supreme Council of Family Affairs (SCFA)

• Qasimi Archives, honouring the legacy of Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi, founder and designer of the London-based QASIMI fashion label, and cultivating next-generation fashion designers to use clothing as a medium for cultural dialogue and exchange.

• Sharjah Fashion Lab offers world-class expertise empowering local designers by providing access to specialised services, advanced machinery, and technological innovation to develop fashion prototypes, create digital patterns, and produce prototypes that meet global manufacturing standards.

• Irthi Museum, an initiative of the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council dedicated to promoting and contemporising Emirati and regional crafts by empowering traditional craftswomen.

• Sharjah Design Centre, a newly established initiative pioneering facilities for prototyping and design fabrication through woodwork, ceramics, metalwork, textile, jewellery designing, and additional facilities for design mastery through conversation and experimentation, including fine jewellery and other artistic elements, fostering design mastery through collaboration, experimentation, and a vibrant creative exchange.

Its integrated design combines green spaces, interconnected buildings, and essential facilities such as cafés and restaurants.

The Sharjah Creative Quarter will also include a campus of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, the first in Sharjah and the second in the Middle East. Through a programme of courses and talks, L’ÉCOLE is aiming to introduce the public to all aspects of jewellery culture around its three pillars: art history, savoir-faire and the world of gemstones. A library will also be open to visitors and researchers, contributing to the dissemination of jewellery arts and knowledge on an international scale.

Designed to be a vibrant hub, the Sharjah Creative Quarter will provide a stimulating environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Its integrated design, combining green spaces, interconnected buildings, and essential facilities such as cafés, restaurants, and co-working spaces, will create an energetic atmosphere that provides visitors with a platform for cultural and artistic exchange and collaboration.

Taller de Arquitectura, the architectural firm headed by Mauricio Rocha and collaborating with Daniel Rosselló for the project, has a distinguished track record in designing museums, public infrastructure and cultural centres, including the Anahuacalli Museum and the School of Visual Arts in Mexico. These projects have solidified the firm's reputation as a leading expert in the field of museums and cultural infrastructure.

Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Creative Quarter and President of the Sharjah Art Foundation, expressed her optimism for the project, saying: “We are excited to unveil the Sharjah Creative Quarter, a project that we believe will be a fitting addition to our emirate's rich cultural landscape. We envision it as a thriving hub of creativity, innovation, and artistic expression, inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.”

She also acknowledged the invaluable support and guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Family Affairs, whose vision has been instrumental in shaping this unique project.