Flanked by the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Desert, Sharjah calls itself the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. There are more than forty-five heritage centers, museums, galleries, parks and theaters in this tiny state. The ruling sheikh, a playwrite reigns over a province a little bit bigger than the size of Maui, my home.

I imagine Sharjah patiently strives to be an antidote to Dubai's skyward fantasy in whose shadow it forever lies. Today is Sharjah's moment. Every two years, members of the art world watch the Sharjah Biennial which selects, commissions, and presents artwork for two months in the spring. They are here to observe and most of all, judge. Is it marketable? Is it a coherent artistic conversation between the region and the rest of the world? How does it compare to Art Dubai next door?

Today is the press conference. Jack Persekian, artistic director and Isabel Carlos, curator from Portugal describe the open call for projects, five hundred proposals received.