Dubai Culture Concludes ‘Harakat Sikka’ Training Programme

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has successfully completed the Harakat Sikka training programme, designed to develop participants’ skills in short-form stop-motion animation and enrich their visual storytelling techniques. Supported by the Sikka Platform and under the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy, the six-week initiative reflects the Authority’s commitment to giving emerging voices the space to experiment, learn, and produce original projects, thereby reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.

The closing event, hosted at Al Shindagha Museum, the UAE’s largest heritage museum, was attended by Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture; Khulood Khoory, Director of Projects and Events at Dubai Culture; and Khalil Abdulwahid, Director of the Visual Art Department at Dubai Culture. The occasion honoured the ten graduates: Afra Atiq Juma, Aisha Almarashda, Fatma Almheiri, Hessa Turki Altamimi, Nada Assar, Nadiia Zhelieznova, Nawal Ahmad Hassan, Samara Al Hennawi, Shabbir Yunus, and Zahra Shafie.

Over six intensive weeks under the mentorship of director and visual storyteller Boubaker Boukhari, the cohort gained hands-on experience across every stage of the animation process. The curriculum combined practical workshops on cinematic storytelling, character design, and animation techniques, including cut-out, stop motion, shadow play, and mixed-media applications, among others. Training also covered storyboarding, camera use, sound design, and editing, while introducing strategies for film distribution and participation in festivals.

Commenting on the initiative, Khulood Khoory said: “Harakat Sikka represents an innovative platform for discovering creative talent and nurturing new voices who can shape the future of the animation sector. It underlines Dubai Culture’s role in advancing emerging art forms, fostering collaboration among artists, and supporting the next generation of animators. The quality of the projects produced speaks volumes about the participants’ potential to add fresh perspectives to Dubai’s artistic landscape.”

Delivered in both Arabic and English, the programme targeted Emirati and UAE-based students, artists, designers, writers, and filmmakers with a passion for visual storytelling. It provided an inclusive learning environment that empowered those enrolled to create original films and refine them for wider audiences.