Invest Bank and Sharjah Art Foundation sign sponsorship agreement

The sponsorship agreement contributes to year-round exhibitions, Learning Programme, seasonal film programmes and more

Sharjah Art Foundation today announced Invest Bank as one of its 2020 Gold sponsors. The agreement was signed by Sheikha Nawar Al Qasimi, Vice President of Sharjah Art Foundation, and Lloyd Maddock, the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Bank, in the presence of managers and departments heads of both organisations. The sponsorship contributes to the production and implementation of cultural and community initiatives throughout the year, including the Foundation’s year-round exhibitions, Learning Programme, seasonal film screenings and other educational initiatives designed to encourage cultural exchange and creative development within the UAE community and the surrounding region. 

‘As a non-profit arts organisation it’s important for us to partner with stakeholders in our community in ways that enable us to continue supporting cultural production and learning,’ said Sheikha Nawar Al Qasimi. ‘This generous contribution from Invest Bank contributes to bringing globally reputable art to Sharjah, supporting the commission and dissemination of work, and expanding our on-going and upcoming Learning Programmes, which encourage the artistic development of children, youth, adults of all levels of ability and backgrounds.’

Maddock expressed his pleasure with this partnership, which reflects the keenness of Sharjah Art Foundation, also headed by President and Director Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, to continually sign effective partnerships with public and private institutions that will empower the cultural and artistic sector in the UAE. He also said that this collaboration will be beneficial for building knowledge, education and culture as well as achieving community responsibility through the mutual efforts of both parties, who agreed to conduct joint workshops such as educational, cultural and knowledge programmes about voluntary work for Bank staff in order to instill the importance and value of education and culture in the community.

About Sharjah Art Foundation

Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. Under the leadership of founder Hoor Al Qasimi, a curator and artist, the foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organizations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centers. A growing collection reflects the foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realization of new work and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.

Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organizations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

About Invest Bank

Invest Bank was established in 1975 as a public shareholding company, in the Emirates of Sharjah and its shares are publicly traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Since inception, the Bank has made significant advances and has contributed to the economic development of Sharjah and the wider UAE. Moreover, the Bank has built a solid reputation and strong relationship with its loyal corporate and retail clients and continues to be their trusted bank of choice.

In 2019 the Government of Sharjah entered as a strategic partner and its strategic investment has been made on a commercial basis, with the objective of releasing long-term value from Invest Bank’s underlying profitability and standing as a commercially-strong institution with a loyal customer base across the UAE.

Invest Bank offers a wide range of banking services, adopting a customer driven, time and effort saving policy under the supervision of a highly qualified and specialized bank team. The Bank’s success for well over 45 years is a testament to the solid and trusted relationship it has built and continues to prioritize in the years to come.

About Sharjah

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. In 1998, it was named UNESCO's 'Arab Capital of Culture' and has been designated the UNESCO ‘World Book Capital’ for the year 2019.

Media Contact

Alyazeyah Al Reyaysa
+971(0)65444113
| alyazeyah@sharjahart.org   

© Press Release 2020