The Ministry of Culture organised a dialogue session Wednesday evening entitled "Opportunities of the Creative Economy in a Changing World," on the sidelines of the "Art and Design Village" festival at Darb Al Saai.
The session aimed to highlight the pivotal role of the creative economy as an engine for sustainable development and to explore its new horizons in light of rapid global transformations, particularly in the fields of technology and digital transformation.
The session was presented by media personality Iman al-Kaabi.
The speakers discussed the legal and institutional frameworks necessary for the flourishing of creative industries and reviewed successful models in this field.
Hamid Ibrahim, head of Creative Operations at Kogali, emphasised that the partnership with Disney+ to produce the series "I wago" represents a pivotal step. He explained that the most significant advantage lies in leveraging the immense global reach of the Disney brand, renowned for its rich heritage and extensive experience in animation.
Ibrahim summarised the philosophy of working in the creative economy with the phrase, "Thinking in terms of the entire ecosystem". This perspective goes beyond simply creating a character for a film; it encompasses adapting that character into a series or designing them for products like lunchboxes, confirming that the industry is growing and expanding in this way.
Abdulaziz al-Kubaisi, owner and founder of Lusail Art Production Studios, highlighted the importance of integrating creativity with the economy, calling for the transformation of studios and creative activities into "sustainable economic platforms in the face of global competition."
Al-Kubaisi explained that the creative economy is the art of transforming creativity, activity, and hobbies into income-generating economic value, noting that this concept represents the turning point from pursuing a hobby to establishing a business.
Qatar-based filmmaker Obada Jarbi emphasised that documentaries and feature films represent a long-term investment tool and a form of soft power capable of building a creative economy that reflects local identity and culture. He stressed that this type of content can replace traditional public relations and advertising campaigns.
Jarbi discussed the pivotal role of cinema as a "long-term investment" for the country, adding that many major global cities owe their popularity primarily to what has been portrayed in films, thus reducing the need for massive advertising campaigns.
Qatari entrepreneur Nada Khamis Mohammed al-Sulaiti, founder of Alama Jewellery, revealed the motivation behind launching her brand in 2011. She explained that growing up in a home deeply rooted in heritage inspired her to be the one to tell Qatar's story, emphasising that Qatar is "the most deserving of telling our identity and stories" to the world.
Qatari entrepreneur Abdullah al-Mana called on young people and the community to adopt the concepts of the creative economy as a fundamental pillar for diversifying income sources, stressing that this economy opens "new and numerous horizons in industries" away from total dependence on the traditional economy.
A panel discussion on creative economy.
