The 2nd edition of Reflection, Sharjah’s popular festival of music, art and knowledge, began in grand style on Wednesday at Al Qasba – Sharjah’s leisure, tourism and family destination. A celebration of art in its various forms, Reflection will be held until 22 December, with the participation of 21 art and cultural entities.

The opening ceremony was held in the presence of Mohamed Al Hosani, Acting General Manager of Al Qasba; Alya Burhaima, Interpretation and Education Department Manager at Sharjah Museums Authority; Dr. Iman Abdel Ibrahim, Assistant Professor, Department of Interior Design and Architecture at the University of Sharjah; Amin El Nezami, President of Victoria English School; and Nisar Ibrahim, director of the short film, Soliloquy.

Mohamed Al Hosani, commented: “Since its inception, the family-friendly destination of Al Qasba has been an effective partner in instilling cultural values in visitors and residents of the UAE through numerous events, activities and festivals. These initiatives have successfully positioned Al Qasba as a platform for creative artists from around the world.”

“Through Reflection, we celebrate all genres of arts and artists as they share their creativity and expertise at this event, offering visitors an exciting mix of arts activities, suitable for all age groups,” he continued.

He also thanked sponsors and participants for their contributions in the 2nd edition of Reflection.

Alya Burhaima, said: “Our participation at Reflection is with ‘Museums on the Road’, a mobile museum that includes a selection of artefacts from several Sharjah museums highlighting innovation and creativity to inspire visitors and students. This is being held in partnership with Bee’ah, an environmental management company, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sharjah Education Council. Visitors at Reflection can visit the mobile museum stationed in front of Al Qasba, Block A.”

The opening ceremony of Reflection hosted Egyptian Oud artist Farid Ibrahim, who presented soulful renditions of a popular selection of Egyptian, Iraqi and Levant songs inspired by traditional folklore. Around 650 students from Sharjah’s Victoria English School presented an art installation to commemorate the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The opening ceremony also included a screening of Soliloquy, a film directed by Nisar Ibrahim.

Over the course of five days, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Al Qasba will be a vibrant hub for lovers of music, arts, photography, theatre and more, as prestigious names in the arts and culture field from across the UAE will offer activities, workshops and live performances to visitors across age groups.

The participating entities include Sharjah Museums Authority, Crea-Media Company, Bee’ah, University of Sharjah, International Water Colour Society, Arts4you, Indian Association Sharjah, Media Mantra Company, The Human Lab Company, AKSG, Maraya Art Center, American University of Sharjah (AUS), Nikon School, Emirates Falcon Photography Society, Etisalat, Camlin, the Emirates Creative Team, Sharjah Chess Club, ‘I Love Sharjah’, City Sightseeing Sharjah, and the Cartoon Art Gallery.