Creatives across Qatar will have the opportunity to network and learn more about Liwan Design Studios and Labs a special open-day event Tuesday from 4-8pm.
Located in Downtown Mshereib, Liwan is housed in an imaginatively repurposed historic building that was once the first school for girls in Qatar, founded by education pioneer Amna Mahmoud al-Jaida.
The original school, named Banat El Doha, opened in the late 1950s, and was later renamed Umm Almo'mneen Primary School.
Led by multidisciplinary Qatari designer Aisha bint Nasser al-Sowaidi as its director, Liwan provides creatives who join as members with co-working spaces and studios, state-of-the-art labs for pottery, leatherworking, digital photography, and prototyping, giving them the resources needed to advance their work.
Liwan’s membership programme aims to build a network and community central to the country's creative economy.
It addresses the need to create a pool of resources and provides flexible access to members, alongside a curated space for locally based designers.
The programme opens up Liwan as a creative space to the burgeoning design community in Qatar in the form of an easy-to-reach, easy-to-use, collaborative hub in the heart of the city.
In a press statement, al-Sowaidi said: “Liwan Design Studios and Labs opened its doors to the public last year, and since then, it has served as a multi-functional learning environment, providing Qatari creatives with a community of like-minded individuals and resources to elevate their work.”
“We look forward to welcoming the public and fellow designers to discover what Liwan offers and to growing our community of local and regional creatives,” she added.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Liwan members, local and regional creatives, as well as a chance to explore Liwan's numerous amenities.
Creatives will also meet the artists-in-residence and explore their studios showcasing their latest works, including but not limited to: Fashion Trust Arabia winners BENCHELLAL and Roni Helou; TypeAraby, the region's first experimental platform dedicated to Arabic typography; Al Mafyar, a regeneration project in Northern Qatar; Jilid, Qatar's leading leathermaking start-up; Clay designer Noora al-Melhim; Cartier Labs; Sole Qatar; and select artists who have contributed to the interior design of The Ned.
In addition to providing resources for its members, Liwan offers a robust schedule of public programmes, to raise awareness of local and global design thinking and practices.
Programming includes heritage tours about the history of the building and featured events such as talks, workshops, dinners, exhibitions, film screenings, and networking opportunities.
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