Education minister showcases Qatar's expanding cultural diplomacy through YoC initiative
Tribune News Network
Doha
As the Years of Culture (YoC) initiative celebrates its 15th edition in 2025, Qatar marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy with its most ambitious programme yet — simultaneous partnerships with two countries in a single year.
This bold evolution is the focus of a newly published opinion piece by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater in Arab News, titled 'Qatar's Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform.'
First launched in 2012 as a bilateral cultural exchange programme, the Years of Culture was originally designed to raise global awareness of Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first to be held in the Arab world. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar's international outreach, building long-term, cross-sector collaboration through cultural and creative engagement.
'In an increasingly interconnected world, culture has become a critical language of diplomacy,' writes Al Khater. 'What began as a platform to welcome the world to Qatar has transformed into a mechanism for long-term, reciprocal collaboration across sectors and borders.'
Through a diverse array of programming, ranging from street art installations and collaborative museum exhibitions to culinary exchanges, archaeological fieldwork, and trade fairs, Years of Culture exemplifies a decentralised and inclusive model of diplomacy. It invites participation not only from diplomats and policymakers, but also from chefs, students, economists, volunteers, and artists.
Legacy is a recurring theme in the op-ed. Examples include the 'On the Move' exhibition, which debuted as part of Qatar-MENASA 2022 and later toured in China, and the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, which spans exhibitions, capacity-building, and the revival of traditional glassmaking techniques in Morocco.
A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar and France in 2024 further underscores the programme's long-term policy impact, building on the foundations laid during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture.
The article also reflects on how Qatar is redefining cultural exchange, not as a unilateral export or import of identity, but as a co-created, evolving dialogue.
This is evident in the growing presence of contemporary Qatari art in former partner nations such as Germany, Russia, and China, where young Qatari and Qatar-based artists gain global visibility and form lasting international networks.
Looking ahead, the Years of Culture is poised to expand beyond the model of annual bilateral partnerships into a continuous, multidimensional platform for global engagement. Born in Doha, but resonating far beyond,' writes Al Khater, the programme is now seen as a cultural and intellectual hub, encouraging dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect in an era of shifting global narratives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatari artiste Mohammed Boujassoum dies at 77
QNA Doha Qatari artiste Mohammed Boujassoum passed away on Thursday at the age of 77, after a successful and prolific career. The late artiste was a pioneering figure in Qatar's theatre movement, contributing significantly to its early development. He began his career as a member of the Al Adhwaa musical and theatrical groups in 1965 and 1966, joined the Qatar Theatre Troupe in 1970, and until his passing, he was part of the Qatar Theatre Group. Early in his career, he acted in numerous plays and participated in radio and television shows. In addition to acting, Boujassoum worked as a theatre and radio director. He studied at the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts (HITA) in Kuwait and at the Academy of Arts (AOA) in Egypt, from which he graduated in 1976, making him the first Qatari and Khaleeji to earn a bachelor's degree in acting in the region. Following graduation, he joined the theatre department at the department of culture and arts and was later appointed General Manager of the Qatar National Theatre in November 1981. The late artiste received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, the most recent of which was at the Doha Theatrical Festival in 2023 and contributed to the journalism scene in Qatar through various newspapers, compiling his writings in a book completed before his passing.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Museums opens 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets' exhibition in Hong Kong
HONG KONG: Qatar Museums opened 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha', at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) in the People's Republic of China on Wednesday. On view from June 18 to October 6at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the exhibition is the first in Hong Kong to present such a comprehensive study of Islamic imperial carpets and the broader artistic exchanges that have taken place across regions for centuries. The exhibition is a legacy project of Qatar's Years of Culture initiative and one of the first major outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Qatar Museums and HKPM during the inaugural Hong Kong International Cultural Summit in 2024. It also represents the debut of many of these artefacts outside of Qatar. The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries and special guests from Qatar and Hong Kong, including Chairman of the HKPM Board Leo Kung; Consul General of the State of Qatar in Hong Kong Sheikha Noora Khalifa Al Thani; Director of the Museum of Islamic Art Shaika Nasser Al Nassr; Chairman of The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong Saeed Uddin; Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Betty Fung; and Museum Director of the HKPM Dr Louis Ng. Jointly organised by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the HKPM, the exhibition brings together 90 extraordinary objects, including carpets, manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, and jades, primarily drawn from the collections of MIA, with significant loans from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the HKPM. Wonders of Imperial Carpets traces the cross-cultural exchanges that flourished across the Safavid dynasty, Mughal dynasty, Ottoman dynasty and China between the 16th and 18th centuries, shaped by diplomacy, migration, and global trade networks. Regarding the exhibition, Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of Islamic Art Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the criteria upon which the pieces and collectibles were selected for the 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets' exhibition were inspired by the concept of Islamic and Chinese cultures. They are rare pieces of metal objects and ceramics, most of which are from the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar, and they are the result of cooperation between the two museums. She added the pieces and collectibles were selected jointly in cooperation with the team that came to Qatar from Hong Kong, in an agreed-upon manner, and were not randomly selected at the last minute. Museum Director of the HKPM Dr Louis Ng told QNA that the 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets' exhibition is a testament to the enduring cultural dialogue between the Islamic world and China, embodied by the insightful partnership between the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. He continued by saying that they are proud to provide audiences in Hong Kong and around the world with the opportunity to explore this shared heritage through exquisite artifacts, immersive technologies, and multilingual narratives. This collaboration highlights the HKPM's commitment to building bridges between civilizations and fostering mutual appreciation. Through this landmark collaboration, MIA reaffirms its mission to preserve, study, and share the splendour of Islamic art across time and geography. Wonders of Imperial Carpets offers a rare opportunity to experience the artistic excellence of Islamic dynasties and to reflect on the deep historical connections between cultures. By bringing these masterpieces to new audiences, MIA continues to nurture cross-cultural understanding and highlight the enduring relevance of Islamic artistic heritage on the global stage.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Katara launches summer art workshops for children
QNA Doha The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has launched a variety of summer art workshops for children and young adults, along with a series of educational shows at the Al Thuraya Planetarium. This year's workshops are part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the cultural scene and develop children's aesthetic sense. Katara indicated in a statement that these workshops, which include pottery making, mask painting, colouring and cartoon character design, will be held at its art studios in Building 19 over the course of July and August. The workshops will be supervised by a host of Qatari and resident artists and specialist trainers, ensuring the delivery of content that combines aesthetic value with an innovative educational approach. In this context, Head of the Art Exhibitions Department at Katara Hayya Al Mohannadi highlighted the Foundation's commitment to making the summer vacation an opportunity to hone young talents and provide children with a creative space that enhances self-confidence and artistic expression. She emphasised that these workshops are not merely for entertainment, but rather an extension of the Foundation's mission to spread culture, develop aesthetic taste among the generation, and stimulate their imagination and self-confidence. Al Mohannadi saidKatara believes that children are not necessarily born as artists, but are naturally creative by nature, requiring only the appropriate space and support to thrive, noting that the workshops are designed to enable children to express their ideas and dreams using simple yet profoundly impactful artistic tools. Each year, there is a noticeable increase in participation from families, which has led to a diversification of the workshops and an expansion of the target age groups to include children and adolescents of various ages. In parallel with the workshops, the Al Thuraya Planetarium at Katara presents a range of astronomical shows for children in 3D technology, every Monday and Wednesday of each week. The shows use an attractive visual style and 3D display techniques. The films include: The Astronaut, Space Oases, From Earth to the Universe, Traveling With Light, The Zula Patrol, Phantom of the Universe, Polaris, The Stars, 8 Scoops of Milky Way, and The Universe.
