Qatar Museums has announced the selection of artists Zainab al-Shibani and Maryam al-Humaid to participate in the Akoje Residency programme, in collaboration with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, which is being held at Dumfries House, the headquarters of the King's Foundation in Scotland.

This participation marks a significant achievement on both the artistic and cultural levels, as Zainab and Maryam will be the first artists from the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region to be selected to participate in this prestigious programme, which aims to support artists from around the world by providing them with a space to live, create, and engage with diverse artistic and cultural environments.

The Akoje Residency programme, in collaboration with the King's Foundation, aims to provide a fertile environment for contemporary artists to develop their creative projects and engage with local Scottish culture within the inspiring historical and natural setting of Dumfries House. This house is a cultural landmark sponsored by the King's Foundation.

During the residency, the two artists will have the opportunity to focus on their artistic practice, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, exploring new paths of creativity and artistic experimentation, and engaging with the local and international art community.

This collaboration between Akoje Residency and Qatar Museums reflects the commitment of cultural institutions in Qatar to empowering and supporting artists from the region on the international stage. It also underscores the importance of cultural exchange in building bridges between communities and promoting global artistic dialogue.

The participation of Zainab al-Shibani and Maryam al-Humaid in this programme represents a qualitative step towards empowering female artists from the region and enhancing the cultural presence of SWANA creators on the international stage.

At a time when the world is reconsidering cultural representation and geographical diversity in the global art scene, this residency serves as a platform that celebrates two female voices offering contemporary visions rooted in local culture, yet intersecting with universal human and aesthetic issues.

This achievement not only highlights individual talent, but also reflects a shift in cultural policies towards greater inclusion of artists from non-Western backgrounds, calling for a reshaping of contemporary art narratives from a more pluralistic and equitable perspective.

It also demonstrates the importance of institutional partnerships that bring together the Global South and established cultural institutions in Europe to create equitable opportunities for knowledge and creative exchange.