Overview

Sharjah Art Foundation invites you to mark the annual International Day of People with Disabilities through an inclusive programme of talks, workshops, performances and a film screening held at the foundation’s spaces in Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah, on Saturday, 15 December 2018.

This year’s theme, Empowerment, Inclusion, Equality, focuses on increasing public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and empowering persons with disabilities through inclusion and equality.

The celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities continues Sharjah Art Foundation’s commitment to inclusion, equality and mobility through its Disabilties Education Programme. The Programme offers a wide range of free educational workshops, activities, events and excursions for both children and adults with physical, learning and developmental disabilities to help them discover new ways of self-expression through art. The Disabilities Education Programme also offers training workshops, talks, discussions and events for artists, caregivers and others who work with people with disabilities. All activities are inclusive and encourage public engagement, emphasise creativity and enrich the cultural experience of the participants.


This event is free and open to the public.

Schedule

• Workshop: Clay Imprints
4:00 pm (90 min)
Hamdan bin Moussa Courtyard, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Participants will create imprints using autumn leaves and clay.

• Workshop: Making Split Portraits
4:00 pm (90 min)
Hamdan bin Moussa Courtyard, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Participants will be photographed, have their photos printed and then create collages with their portraits by combining photographs and their own drawings.

• Workshop: Making Mini-Vehicles
4:00 pm (90 min)
Hamdan bin Moussa Courtyard, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Participants will each create a mini-vehicle from bottles and different recycled materials.

• Workshop: Decoupage Art
4:00 pm (90 min)
SAF Urban Garden, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Participants will learn how to transfer images using decoupage art.

• Workshop: Pressing Dried Flowers in Glass
4:00 pm (90 min)
Hamdan bin Moussa Courtyard, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Deriving inspiration from nature, participants will press dried flowers between two panes of glass to create a unique wall hanging that gives the impression of floating flowers.

• Workshop: Pointillism
4:00 pm (90 min)
Hamdan bin Moussa Courtyard, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Pointillism is a painting and drawing technique in which small dots of colour are arranged in patterns to form images. Participants in this workshop will learn the basics of the pointillism technique and use cotton buds (Q-tips) to draw.

• Talk: Moving towards Inclusion: Changing Mindsets with Dr. Nadera Alborno
4:00 pm (30 min)
Gallery 2, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Dr Nadera Alborno, a faculty member at the American University of Dubai, will discuss the rights of people with disabilities. Dr Alborno works with local communities to spread awareness regarding the rights of people with disabilities and has published a number of case studies addressing the challenges faced in the UAE context.

• Talk: My Voice, My Truth, with Chaica Alqassimi
5:00 pm (30 min)
Gallery 2, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Chaica Alqassimi, an Emirati athlete with Down syndrome, will be talking about her achievements and her experience. Chaica has a black belt in karate and is currently preparing to participate in the Special Olympics World Games.


• Performance: Sharjah Mime
6:00 pm (20 min)
Mirage City Cinema, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Sharjah Mime is the first group in Sharjah specialising in pantomime stage shows. The group includes hearing-impaired actors from across the UAE.



• Performance: Alia Ali Abdul Qadir (piano)
6:30 pm (20 min)
Mirage City Cinema, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah
Alia is a 15-year-old pianist with a hearing impairment.


• Film screening: Ponyo (2008)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
8:30 pm (101 min)
Mirage City Cinema, Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah

The son of a sailor, 5-year-old Sosuke lives a quiet life on an Oceanside cliff with his mother Lisa. One fateful day, he finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle on the beach and upon rescuing her, names her Ponyo. This movie is suitable for all ages.