Celebrating arts, literature and culture as AUS concludes Humanities Week 2026

Hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) from September 21 to 24, 2026, Humanities Week is an annual celebration of the arts, literature, language and culture and their power to make sense of our world. Centered around this year’s theme “Worlds in the Making”, the celebration explored how the arts serve as powerful acts of world-building and critical inquiry that shape our understanding of the human experience.

Held this year from September 21 to 24 across the AUS campus, the program included 17 events across the four days, under the theme “Worlds in the Making.” Humanities Week was sponsored by Dr. Aisha Al Sayyar, Founder of Sharjah American International School (SAIS).

The multi-day cultural and academic celebration featured a dynamic lineup of immersive exhibitions, hands-on workshops, thought-provoking panel discussions and artistic showcases led by prominent artists, scholars and professionals. These included digital immersive exhibitions that showcased innovative student projects exploring Arabic digital humanities, creative storytelling, artistic performances and cultural heritage text analysis. 

Highlighted events included the two-day workshop "MENA Diasporas: Migration, Identity and Belonging" hosted by the AUS Center for Arab and Islamic Civilizations and a hands-on Arabic calligraphy bookmark design session led by award-winning Sharjah-based visual artist and interior designer Alia Medhat. 

The session invited participants to exercise their creative freedom in making personalized handmade bookmarks. Blending the principles of Arabic calligraphy, creativity, personal identity and self-expression, the beginner-friendly session guided attendees through engaging techniques to transform their names into elegant artistic compositions using traditional Arabic lettering with decorative details and traditional color palettes. 

To help students explore professional pathways, a career panel, the “Humanities in the Workplace” panel event was held during Humanities Week, co-sponsored by the House of Wisdom. Featuring prominent experts, including House of Wisdom Cultural and Literary Executive and AUS alumnus Ali Alblooshi, Emirates Literature Foundation CEO Ahlam Bolooki and AUS Press Senior Acquisitions Editor Jehanne Moharram, the session was moderated by Dr. Kristen Highland, Head of the Department of English at CAS. The panel explored the vital role of liberal arts skills, critical thinking and cultural awareness in shaping successful modern careers while also providing students with inspiring insights into diverse professional sectors and pathways across arts, literature and cultural sectors. 

The event rounded off with cultural performances that celebrated community expression through student poetry recitations, musical showcases and an engaging campus Lit Fest.