Qatar Years of Culture boost understanding

By Selin Calik Muhasilovic

DOHA, Qatar

Qatar Museums has recently announced that Germany will headline Qatar’s next Year of Culture partner in 2017.

Every year, Qatar runs a cultural exchange program called “Years of Culture” that aims to convey the country to an international audience.

With the active support of partner nations, and in collaboration with numerous institutions in Qatar and abroad, the Years of Culture program provides a diverse range of exhibitions, concerts, competitions and activities.

In 2016, China is Qatar’s partner nation for the Year of Culture under the patronage of Qatar Museums’ (QM) chairwoman, Sheikha al-Mayassa al-Thani, in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the embassy of China in Qatar.

As parts of the Year of Culture, the Chinese Festival in Qatar opened on Nov. 9 at the Museum of Islamic Art Park.

"We are very excited to host this dynamic festival that promotes an understanding, celebration and appreciation of Chinese culture, traditions and people, in Qatar," said Mohammed al-Othman, Qatar Museums public and international relations director, at the joint opening ceremony.

Ashlee Starratt, senior editor at iloveqatar.net in Qatar, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the Years of Culture is an initiative of Qatar Museums that aims at building bridges between countries in order to foster a better understanding of their culture, language, economy.

Qatar-Turkey cultural relations

In 2015, the Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture explored the contemporary and traditional cultures of both countries and included exhibitions, festivals, performances, educational programs as well as cultural exchanges.

As part of these programs, the Yunus Emre Institute-Turkish Cultural Center was inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha.

"Qatari people inspires and provides cultural exchanges between Turkey and Qatar,” Mehmet Aykac, director of Yunus Emre Institute in Doha told Anadolu Agency. “The Yunus Emre Institute-Turkish Cultural Center in Qatar has been playing a pivotal role in providing Turkish cultural activities such as [...] organizing an education fair and Turkish language courses and representing Turkey at 'My Coffee, My Identity 2016' in Doha.”

“Additionally, ‘Understanding Rumi’ is going to held on Nov. 17-19 at Qatar National Theatre. Doha will host famous classical/sufi music singer Ahmet Ozhan,” he adds.