Amin Abbas
SHARJAH: Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) ended after 12 days filled with over 1,500 activities led by some of the world’s brightest minds and amassing more than 1,000 hours of enriching content for more than 157,000 visitors.
Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Once Upon a Hero’, the festival hosted various workshops, panel discussions, and performances.
This event, held at Expo Sharjah, was a reflection of the visionary leadership and directives of Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. To further show his support, he ordered the allocation of 2 million dirhams to buy the latest titles from participating publishers and booksellers participating in SCRF 2024.
Sharjah’s Ruler presented honors to the winners of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival Award and the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Award. The first place was secured by Kyoung Mi Ahn from South Korea, followed by Juan Carlos Palomino from Mexico in second place, and Daniela Stamatiadi from Greece in third.
Several shortlisted artworks from several artists from Japan have been featured at this year’s book festival, like Japanese Kaori Nishimura, who showcased her mixed media piece called “Japanese Animal.”
The festival showcased a vibrant myriad of cultural and creative diversity in literature, welcoming 186 publishers from 20 countries. It embodied a spirit of openness and knowledge exchange, offering a rich visitor experience through sessions and activities led by 265 distinguished luminaries in literature and art from 25 countries.
This global diversity not only enhanced the festival’s cultural standing but also drew in a diverse audience of various nationalities and age groups.
The comprehensive program also included 12 theatrical and roaming performances led by 19 artists from 12 countries, and various panel discussions on developing children’s communication skills, led by 70 experts from 25 countries.
Khoula Al Mujaini, the General Coordinator of SCRF, commented on the festival, saying, “Each edition of SCRF reaffirms our conviction that culture serves as a platform for our children to prepare for the future, where reading plays a pivotal role in unlocking their true potential. SBA continues to reinforce Sharjah’s status as a thriving hub of knowledge and creativity. This festival is inspiring successive generations to become the architects of tomorrow, adding a new chapter to the emirate’s global cultural initiative, which continues to emphasize the critical role of reading in nurturing society.”
The ‘Comics Corner’ at the festival curated 132 engaging activities, including workshops and panel discussions led by 31 creatives from 4 countries. Simultaneously, the ‘Cookery Corner’ emerged as a culinary haven, hosting 60 informative seminars and 36 live cooking sessions conducted by 25 esteemed chefs and experts from 12 countries.
In a special focus on the youth, the festival enhanced its cultural offerings with the ‘Kids Creative Café,’ where talented children shared their inspiring stories and life experiences, showcasing the knowledge they have acquired.