On the Occasion of celebrating Sharjah as Capital of Islamic Culture for the Year 2014, Department of Culture and Information of the Government of Sharjah and the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), Istanbul jointly organized Sharjah Heritage Days: Islamic Heritage as One Tent which include Folklore Music, Arts of Cooking and Handicrafts from different places of the Muslim World, Sharjah, 6-25 April, 2014.
In accordance with the Agreement of Cooperation signed between the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and culture (IRCICA), Istanbul and the Department of Culture of the Government of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for organizing the Sharjah Heritage Days: Islamic Heritage as One Tent which include Folklore Music, Arts of Cooking and Handicrafts from different places of the Muslim World, Sharjah, 6-25 April, 2014; The Department of Culture of the Government of Sharjah and the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and culture (IRCICA), Istanbul jointly organized the following activities:
1- International Exhibition for Innovators of Artisans from 30 different countries among the Muslim World who came with their instruments and practiced their techniques of work in-front of the visitors and the public, in which they provided a unique opportunity for the participants and the visitors to know closely images of such rich heritage from various geographical places of the world and also interact with the artisans on issues relating to their applied techniques as well as obtaining some of the artisans innovated products. The exhibition site were made as a Crafts Bazar which displayed various types of handmade products which came from different countries and allowed visitors to see innovative products in the field of Embroidery, Weaving, Costumes, Carpets, Kilims, Sadou, Pottery, Silver Works, Metal Crafts, Engraving and Ornamentation, Leather products, Ceramic, Mosaic, Textile and etc..
2- Folklore Musical Performance from different Countries of the Muslim World which witnessed the participation of distinguish Folkloric Musical Groups from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria, Turkey, Daghistan, in addition to local Folklore Groups from the United Arab Emirates, and other groups brought by the Department of Culture from India, Malaysia, Egypt and Morocco.
3- A unique show of professionals in the field of Cooking and Sweets from Algeria, Indonesia, India, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey in addition to the United Arab Emirates who prepared various types of their local food and sweets that were provided to the visitors who found this as an opportunity to know more about the richness of traditions and meals in various different geographical countries which resulted indirectly in encouraging more channels of communication and cultural dialogue among different groups of people of the world.
IRCICA has held many working sessions with the Department of Culture and information of the government of Sharjah on 29 January to 02 February 2014 in order to lay out the concrete steps for organizing the Sharjah Heritage Days. Sessions which were held in Sharjah and Istanbul focused on the main steps of actions which were drawn up to organize such important activities. Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Musalam, Director of Heritage and Cultural Affairs has represented the Department of Culture and Information of the Government of Sharjah, and IRCICA was represented by Dr. Nezih Maruf, Head, Crafts Development Program.
Dr. Halit Eren, Director General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), Istanbul, has took part in the inauguration of the Sharjah Heritage Days which were inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Ben Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, accompanied by Sheikh Sultan Ben Mohammed Ben Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy of the Ruler, Sheikh Nahiyan Ben Mubarak Al Nahiyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Society Development, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Central Finance, Sheikh Khalid Ben Sultan Ben Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Council of Architectural Planning, Sheikh Khalid Ben Issam Al Qassimi, Chairman, Civil Aviation Department, Sheikh Salem Ben Abdul Rehman Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Ruler Office, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Hmaid Al Qasimi, H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Uwais, Minister of Health, Mr. Raed Ben Tulaiaa, Chairman, Municipality Council of Sharjah, Mr. Abdullah Al Uwais, Chairman, Department of Culture and information, Members of the Executive Council of Sharjah Emirate, Chairmen of the Governmental Departments of Sharjah, Dr. Amru Abdul Hamid, Advisor of the Ruler of Sharjah for Advanced Education , and Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Musalam, Director of Heritage and Cultural Affairs. This is in addition to a number of the representatives of the Diplomatic Circle in UAE and Heads of Delegation of the participating Countries along with the representative of Media Institutions.
The Heritage Days aimed to gather innovators in the field of Folklore Music, Cooking Arts and Handmade Products from different countries of the Muslim World within special designed Tents that displayed and performed Folklore Music, and a variety of food and sweet products. The Festival also displays the works and techniques applied by artisans of various geographical regions of the Muslim World as were practiced at their workshops. Such activities provided an attractive opportunity for the visitors which attracted more groups of audience and has encouraged at the same time the activation of the cultural, heritage and touristic life of the Sharjah Emirate.
IRCICA worked hard for nearly a three months period to contact the concerned Craft and cultural authorities in many countries of the Muslim World providing all the necessary technical experience and advisory negotiations to ensure the selection of Folklore Musical Groups, Professionals of Cooking and sweets making, in addition to a group of the innovators in the field of handmade products which finally were crowned with an active and successful participation in the various activities of this important event.
