UAE: 12-day Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival to feature 190 guests from 25 countries – News

More than 1,400 cultural, arts and edutainment activities performed by 190 guests from 25 countries will set the stage for limitless explorations and creative expression alongside 470 publishers from 75 countries at the upcoming 15th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) next month.

Hosted by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), and taking place from May 1 to 12 at Expo Center Sharjah, the region’s largest event dedicated to nurturing the imagination of young heroes, is themed “Once upon a time there was a hero” this year.

The cultural agenda for SCRF 2024, as well as details of the third annual Booksellers Conference, which will take place prior to SCRF on April 27-28, were announced during an official press conference at SBA headquarters on Wednesday. .

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The third edition of the Booksellers Conference, taking place in the run-up to SCRF on April 27-28, brings together booksellers, distributors and publishers from the region and around the world to discuss business issues and best practices.

SBA will also host the second edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC), from May 1 to 5 at Expo Center Sharjah, bringing together renowned animators, artists, creatives, thinkers and other industry leaders at this unique event in its type. .

“We firmly believe that children’s minds are not mere receptacles of information, but rather beacons waiting to be lit. Making a crucial distinction between the two concepts, the first involves a child loaded with knowledge that he may not understand how to apply, while the second empowers “Allow them to visualize clear paths, use their existing skills and continually explore new horizons,” said Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of Sharjah Book Authority.

Khawla Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival. KT Photo: Muhammad Sajjad

Khawla Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SCRF, said: “The 15th edition of SCRF will be held under the theme ‘Once upon a time there was a hero’, to highlight the influence that the written word has on sculpting our children’s future. The act of reading can easily be compared to a journey into the depths of our own being that ultimately ends in cultivating our imagination, forging our character and shaping our life. Through this festival, we nurture generations who recognize the true potential of reading as a key to change and development. “We are raising young minds who firmly believe that they are the heroes of their own stories, capable of limitless creativity and innovation.”

50 enlightening debates

The SCRF 2024 cultural program will highlight the importance of nurturing children’s communication skills and creativity and delve into other important discussions during 50 insightful discussions led by 71 esteemed guests from 25 countries. American author and illustrator Jerry Craft, American author Stacey Baer, ​​Malaysian author and trainer Ying Ying Ng and Georgian author Dr. Leah Shalvashvili are among the leading global luminaries joining the festival.

The Arab world will be represented by distinguished figures such as the Syrian academic Dr. Taleb Omran, the Algerian academic Dr. El Aid Jlouli and the Omani poet Wafaa Al Shamsi. The festival will also feature prominent cultural and literary figures from the UAE, including Aisha Batti Al Shamsi,

Rashid Al Rahmani and Nadia Al Najjar, encouraging a rich exchange of ideas and celebrating the diversity of cultural expressions.

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