Qatar Museums yesterday announced the official launch of the Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture, following the success of Qatar Brazil 2014, Qatar UK 2013 and Qatar Japan 2012.
The Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture celebrates the relations between both countries through cultural partnerships involving organisations, institutions and individuals.
A rich programme will explore the contemporary and traditional cultures of both countries. World class exhibitions, festivals, performances, educational programmes and cultural exchanges are to be held across Qatar and Turkey.
“Under the guidance and leadership of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, we are proud to announce that the Republic of Turkey will be our partner country for 2015,” said Safiya Saif al-Hajari, director of Strategic Cultural Relations.
The programmes in the Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture will be grouped under four main categories: Art & Culture, Community & Education, Sport, and Business and Trade.
Among the highlights are major exhibitions in both countries and a Turkish Festival and Bazaar in Qatar.
Exhibitions in Qatar will include a new show of modern and contemporary Qatari and Arab art from the collection of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and a new exhibition curated by MIA called ‘The Hunt’, which will explore images from Qatari and Ottoman Royal collections.
Exhibitions in Turkey will include a new edition of the acclaimed Pearls exhibition, now seen by over 250,000 visitors in Japan, UK and Brazil. Musical performances in both countries will feature classical, Turkish and Arab music, and festivals will include a Turkish film week in collaboration with Doha Film Institute and an open air Turkish Festival and Bazaar at the Museum of Islamic Art Park.
Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, Ahmet Demirok, pointed out that Turkey and Qatar have excellent brotherly relations based on common culture and centuries-old history.
Inspired by Qatar’s National Vision for 2030, the Years of Culture initiative is a key part of Qatar Museums’ vision in establishing cultural ties between Qatar and countries around the world.
