Culture & Education | Sunday 14 April, 2019 3:10 am |

 

For the first time in its history, Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2019) will hold two exhibitions – ‘Travelling the Silk Road’ and ‘Voyage to the Deep’ – that will take children on a fantastic journey into the past. The 11thedition of SCRF is scheduled to take place between April 17-27 at Sharjah Expo Centre.

 

Travelling the Silk Road

This dazzling exhibition recreates the most celebrated trade route in history, named after the exquisite and treasured fabric that attracted traders from all over the world. The Silk Road stretched from the far reaches of China through the cities and empires of Central Asia and the Middle East.

 

The exhibition showcases immersive re-creations of ancient settings to take visitors on a journey to four bygone cities, which will feature life-size models, artifacts, and hands-on activities to tell the story of the route's extraordinary golden age and its influence on the world across centuries.

 

Voyage to the Deep

‘Voyage to the Deep’ is an interactive exhibition that brings to life the deep-sea adventures of Captain Nemo, his fantastical Nautilus submarine and the mythical world he inhabited. Developed by Australian National Maritime Museum and toured internationally by Flying Fish the exhibition is based on the French science fiction author Jules Verne’s 1870 classic ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’.

 

At the centre of this fantasy world recreated at the exhibition is the giant Nautilus submarine. Children can climb aboard and discover the inner workings of a deep-sea submersible. Two- to 10-year-olds can even take up the controls at the helm, peer through the periscopes, crank the propeller, test out the bunks and explore Captain Nemo’s Cabinet of Curiosities filled with   wonderful marine specimens.

 

SCRF is one of the most important cultural events dedicated to children in the UAE and the greater Arab region. From humble beginnings, it has developed into an integrated event that contributes to enriching the knowledge of visitors with science and literature, while ensuring the participation of organisations and centres dedicated to children.