Qatar, UK celebrate ties with cultural events

By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff ReporterQatar and UK residents are in for more treats during this year of culture as the Qatar UK 2013 initiative organisers yesterday unveiled a new array of cultural and entertaining events scheduled to take place in both countries throughout the year and beyond.During a press meet organised by the British Council yesterday, the initiative’s platinum sponsors comprising Qatargas, Shell and Vodafone, were also announced.The sponsors were represented at the press conference by their senior executives comprising Qatargas chief executive officer Khalid bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar Shell Corporate Affairs general manager Rob Sherwin and Vodafone Qatar chief executive officer Richard Daly.Also present as special guests were British ambassador to Qatar Michael O’Neill, Qatari ambassador to the UK Khalid Rashid Salem al-Homoudi al-Mansouri and Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) acting chief executive officer Edward Dolman.Inspired by the Qatar National Vision for 2030, Qatar UK 2013 aims to celebrate and forge new partnerships between Qatar and the UK in the fields of art, culture, education, sport and science.QMA and the British Council are developing the programme of events that are taking place throughout the year in Qatar and the UK to celebrate both countries’ cultures and to strengthen and develop mutual understanding and awareness.Qatar UK 2013 is the second bilateral year of culture co-ordinated by QMA following success of the Qatar Japan initiative last year. “Building upon the success of several events in the first part of the year, the announcement of the latest programme highlights include an exhibition, which begins at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) today until June 22, ‘Ferozkoh:Tradition and Continuity in Afghan Art’,” British Council’s Strategic Cultural Relations director Miguel Blanco-Carbasco explained.‘Ferozkoh’ presents 37 works created specifically for the exhibition by the students and teachers of Turquoise Mountain’s Institute for Afghan Arts and Architecture in Kabul, which are inspired by an historical object in the MIA permanent collection.“Other upcoming events in Qatar include an exhibition of work by British photographer Martin Parr, which started yesterday until May 18 at Katara Cultural Village; and performances by the world-renowned and UK leading dance house - Sadler’s Wells dance company (May 25-30) at Katara,” he mentioned.He also mentioned other ongoing activities in Qatar including an Arts and Disability Festival featuring dance, music, visual arts and film created by leading British deaf and disabled artists (until March 30 at Katara); and the exhibition  ‘Hey’ Ya: Arab Women in Sport’  by photographer Brigitte Lacombe and filmmaker Marian Lacombe (until June 16, Katara, QMA Gallery); Meanwhile, forthcoming UK events include the launch of an Arabic language and culture programme in the UK schools to promote deeper understanding through a promotional campaign to be launched soon, according to the British Council director Martin Hope.Another exhibition ‘Pearls’ is being planned between Septement 21-January 2014 at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum in London, co-curated by QMA and the V&A.The exhibition will chart a scientific, historical and cultural journey into the realm of pearls through 200 works of art, objects and jewellery pieces.The latest announcements of events follow last week’s visit to Qatar by the Prince of Wales, who is UK Patron of Qatar UK 2013, and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall. During their stay, they visited a number of current Qatar UK 2013 events, including a preview of the upcoming Ferozkoh exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art, the launch of the Qatar-UK Alumni Network and the ‘Designed to Win’ exhibition at Katara.  Later in September, the BBC Symphony Orchestra will conducts two concerts featuring traditional and contemporary British music.Also in October, the British Museum’s exhibition exploring travels to Hajj throughout centuries will come to Doha’s MIA and a major new exhibition of the work of British artist Damien Hirst curated by Francesco Bonami will take place at Al Riwaq Exhibition Hall here.Launched on February 28, the Doha Film Institute (DFI) UK Cinema showcase - a series of monthly screenings throughout 2013 celebrating the power of classic and contemporary films from the British canon being organised by DFI in partnership with the British Council and QMA, will continue to feature a movie on the last weekend of each month at the MIA Auditorium throughout the year.The next film titled: The Third Man to be screened on March 28, was scripted by Graham Greene and features actors such as Cotten, Welles, Alida Valli and Trevor Howard.More information about the Qatar UK initiative can be had at www.qataruk2013.com or on twitter at @qataruk2013 and www.facebook.com/qataruk2013