Sharjah Public Libraries Concludes Centennial Year with Creative Events
Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) has concluded its centenary programme with a series of engaging activities celebrating its 100-year legacy. The year-long celebration ended with a children’s puppet theatre performance held in the Heart of Sharjah, complemented by creative workshops at Kshisha Park in Al Rahmaniyah.
The closing festivities embraced the theme “The Aesthetics of Literary Image and Sound,” shining a spotlight on the importance of reading and underlining the vital role of libraries in nurturing a knowledge-based society.
At the Heart of Sharjah, SPL presented a puppet show for children aged six to thirteen, organised in collaboration with Rubu’ Qarn for Theatre and Performing Arts. The interactive performance depicted the development of Sharjah Public Libraries, chronicling the journey from early printed books to modern digital services. Through storytelling and visual art, the event aimed to foster an appreciation for cultural heritage and reinforce its relevance in shaping identity. Children also enjoyed a puppet-making workshop, where they explored basic design and production techniques.
At Kshisha Park, SPL hosted two innovative workshops that fused literature and visual arts. The first session, in partnership with Shurooq, introduced children to photography, guiding them to interpret stories and poems through images. The second, created with FUNN, encouraged participants to translate texts into visual compositions using nature-inspired materials, such as stones and miniature objects curated by Kshisha Parks.
Throughout the year, SPL’s centennial celebrations centered on four distinct themes:
- “Literary Beginnings“: Featured a panel discussion, reading advocacy campaign, creative writing workshop, cultural tours in the Eastern Region, and poetry events.
- “Cultural Civilisation“: Offered heritage discussions, workshops on traditional dress, children’s competitions, book restoration sessions, and museum visits delving into the history of early writing.
- “Horizons of Writers and Poets“: Included intellectual lectures, Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation workshops, as well as poetry and literary gatherings.
- “Cultural Sustainability“: Highlighted the importance of Emirati heritage with activities on palm trees, papermaking, and creative literary and artistic projects.
These comprehensive programmes reflect SPL’s continuing commitment to enriching Sharjah’s cultural landscape and inspiring future generations to read, create, and connect through the power of literature and art.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
