Groundbreaking international exhibition soon to open in the UAE

Common Ground is a unique international exhibition of photography and film conceived and organized by the British Council to further mutual understanding and build cultural bridges between nations and people, as well as provide a platform for photographers from the UK and the Gulf to exchange their experiences and knowledge. The main objective of Common Ground however, is to highlight the issue of cultural identity and to challenge stereotypes.

There will be eight British photographers exhibiting their works as well as six artists from the Middle East representing Oman, Yemen, KSA, Qatar and Bahrain, (including Nuha Asad from Sharjah) as well as artists from Malaysia and Indonesia. The exhibition, which has created a major impact in the UK, has already visited Bahrain in its tour of the region and will be going on to Abu Dhabi (March 2006) and ending in Riyadh (April/May 2006) after making its mark here. Although the exhibition will not be hosted in Oman, Qatar and Yemen, the photographers will also be visiting these countries to host workshops and seminars parallel to the ongoing exhibition in other countries.

The exhibition in Sharjah is accompanied by a number of activities on the subject of cultural identity including workshops, seminars and a national photographic competition for 15-25 year olds. The competition will run from February 7, 2006 until the end of March, with the theme 'exploring the Common Ground between the UAE and the UK through a photograph'.

Common Ground is the first international collaboration of Contemporary Arts in the Middle East actively promoted by the British Council and has been many years in the making. It was initially conceived by the British Council as a series of new commissions for eight young British artists on issues relating to Muslim identity in the UK, but the project took on new life several years later when the British Council worked closely with curators in Indonesia and Malaysia to develop parallel bodies of work. Now with the involvement of artists from the Gulf States and Yemen, the project has taken on new momentum.

The opening ceremony is on February 7, 2006, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and attended by Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, as well as VIPs and other guests.