Sharjah: Students from the College of Architecture, Art, and Design (CAAD) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have had an engaging and immersive semester with the unique opportunity to participate in a new course in collaboration with the Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) and experience Sharjah Biennial 15, a prominent contemporary art exhibition.
Led by Assistant Professor Dr. Christianna Bonin, the collaboration has provided opportunities for students to gain critical skills that are needed to support the region’s fast-growing culture and arts sector through dialogue with leading art world professionals, including curators, artists, museum and gallery specialists, and architects.
Sharjah Art Foundation aims to cultivate and promote an appreciation for the arts among young individuals and students. Our mission is to foster an environment that encourages engagement in the ever-evolving artmaking field. It is our pleasure to collaborate with the American University of Sharjah to develop a unique curriculum centered on Sharjah Biennial 15.
Ms. Noora Al Mualla, Director of Learning and Research at Sharjah Art Foundation, shared.
“This programme allowed students to study the Biennial’s curation, theory and impact on the art world in an exciting and dynamic learning environment. We are dedicated to assisting educational institutions and universities with teaching materials and supporting students as they explore the critical concepts presented by the poetics and politics of visual culture,” the Director added.
Dr.. Bonin commented that “students have learned how to experience an exhibition as curators, critics and audience members. This roving seminar has exposed them to a wide range of artworks, curatorial approaches and topics that connect communities from diverse parts of the world. These skills are critical for developing new talent for the region’s cultural institutions and creative industries.”
“It has been particularly interesting to see what themes and approaches resonated with each individual student as they explored the curatorial process and how to communicate an idea visually and spatially,” Dr. Bonin added.