2024 Festival

Mark your calendars for a transformative journey into the realm of art and culture.
The Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival 2024 unfolds from February 2nd to 29th, offering a month-long celebration that bridges heritage with modernity.
As a homegrown cultural happening, Ras Al Khaimah Art provides an immersive and sensory cultural experience to local and international visitors. Ras Al Khaimah Art fuses the modern and the ancient, bringing together a variety of art forms whilst stimulating dialogue between artists, authors, creatives and the community during the vibrant, authentic, and cultural festival steeped in more than a decade of heritage.
Theme
The COVID-19 pandemic was a moment of intense stillness in a world addicted to being “in motion.” In a year of global paralysis, nature revealed the beauty and resilience of its movement, transforming its landscapes and revitalizing its ecosystems. The “anthropause” offered something to all living beings equally: a moment to grow in ways we did not expect. Whales in the Hudson, turtles in Dubai Marina, and rare species visiting empty cities in Latin America demonstrated that our absence meant greater life for others with whom we share this world.
As we prepare to evaluate humanity’s impact on the natural world at the UAE-based COP-28, we find ourselves in a world fraught with tensions and contradictions. Emerging from the stillness of the pandemic, our hunger for movement and desire for change has been increasing in tandem with an anxiety-driven fear of the unknown. However, like the roaring 1920s that followed the devastation of World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic, people are bursting to celebrate liberation and freedom. As Arshile Gorky says, “movement is the translation of life, and if art depicts life, movement should come into art since we are only aware of living because it moves.”
This year, the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival will be reborn as the Ras Al Khaimah Art. In Motion for us, therefore, represents a new beginning and a chance to reimagine what’s possible for the next decade of the Festival. But it is also an opportunity to question what should be the new “normal” and an invitation to embrace the beauty, diversity, and constant evolution of the world around us. From generative AI and NFTs to journeys to space to environmental movements, Ras Al Khaimah Art 2024 seeks to simultaneously celebrate and critique the power of motion and change. From the mechanical to the natural, we ask you to reflect on what it means to live life in motion once again.
Objectives
01
An Enriching and Immersive Experience:
Education is an essential component of our Festival. The Festival seeks to nurture the community's love for art and provide a unique experiential journey through cutting-edge discussions, masterclasses, heritage conservation, and culture.
02
A Synthesis of Heritage, Culture, & The Arts
Catalyzes revitalization of the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, UAE's last remaining intact Emirati pearling village, by hosting exhibitions and thought-provoking programs throughout the winter season.
03
Positioning Ras Al Khaimah
Cultivate Ras Al Khaimah's status as a center for social and human innovation and creativity in adding dimensions to quality of life and enriching the experience of living in Ras Al Khaimah.
04
Democratization of Art
Inclusivity is a crucial mission in our Festival. Art is for Everyone, and we strive to embody this in all aspects of our exhibition and programming.

2024 Curatorial Bio
Alfio Tommasini
Born in Lodano, Switzerland, Alfio Tommasini is a photographer, curator, and artistic director interested in the relationship people have with the territory they live in. He has exhibited and published work internationally, receiving several awards for his photography work. Alfio is the co-founder of Verzasca Foto Festival, where he’s responsible for the artistic direction and curation. He also works as a freelance photographer and is interested in local and international collaborations.
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Throughout history, the urge to explore has fueled both humanity's progress and artists' inspiration. Today, this drive propels artists into uncharted territories of the physical world and abstract realms, seeking unexplored connections and diverse cultures.
Ras Al Khaimah Art merges motion, culture, and perception. Our exhibition route and events immerse you in this dynamic narrative, becoming a part of the very essence of movement. Step by step through the heritage village's storied pathways, you'll encounter captivating installations. Crafted by local and international artists, these masterpieces harmonize with this year's Festival theme: In Motion.
Like the pioneers of the Emirates, who epitomized exploration, today's nation is a hub of work and leisure. In this evolving scene, movement offers a chance to unearth new cultures, reconnect with forgotten histories, and celebrate uniqueness.
Art is a realm where motion embodies evolution. Ras Al Khaimah Art goes beyond aesthetics, birthing a cultural movement resonating through time. Amid the enchanting landscape of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, join us in discovering life's essence through culture, art, and movement. Ras Al Khaimah Art reveals more than just art; it mirrors our human journey—a story flourishing in this remarkable place.

Highlights
Founded in 2013, we’ve grown from a small festival of 30 emerging Ras Al Khaimah-based artists to become the emirate’s cultural event of the year. Since 2019, the Festival has called Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village home, hosting a large-scale, outdoor exhibition modeled after La Gacilly Photo Festival in France. The historic home of the Al Zaabi tribe, the traditional pearling village now serves as a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary art, bringing together art lovers, history enthusiasts, and the rest of the community to engage with new forms of art and learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s rich history. In recognition of Ras Al Khaimah’s connection to the desert, the mountains, and the sea, RAFKAF also hosts satellite exhibitions on the UAE’s highest peak, Jebel Jais, and luxury beach destination, Marjan Island.
Programming
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Multimedia Art Exhibition
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