Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation - has launched a new five-year strategic plan (2013-2018).
The plan aims to achieve the objectives of Katara as a profitable cultural institution and also help equip its staff with the best international standards.
“The foundation would see a quantum leap in the next few months in terms of its performance, mission and plans. The new strategy is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and it plans to support both local and international cultural activities,” said Dr Khalid al-Sulaiti, general manager, Katara, said at a press
conference.
Katara will focus on supporting all kinds of arts, promoting national identity and reviving the country’s heritage to achieve the targeted cultural development, in addition to enhancing international cultural interaction and Qatar’s role in the field of culture in the region and beyond.
Dr al-Sulaiti said the strategy aims to use the buildings and utilities of Katara to develop a cultural environment and encourage creativity. “In the next stage, we plan to increase cultural awareness both within and outside Qatar through carnivals, exhibitions and seminars, and also conduct research and studies in the field. We will issue Katara publications and newsletters and work in co-ordination with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority as well as government and semi-government institutions and cultural, educational, academic and economic foundations,” he said, adding: “Katara is investing in creativity and in new communication methods to promote the role of international culture.”
Dr Khalid al-Jabir, strategic affairs adviser at Katara, said they have worked on the plan for six months. “The work included studies that analysed the work system within the foundation, as well as human and financial resources, through interviews and workshops with decision-makers at Katara, staff, visitors and investors. We had a workshop with Palladium Group under the sponsorship of Dr David P Norton and other international experts to benefit from the Kaplan-Norton Strategy.”
Katara is working to highlight the importance of culture in society, focusing on children and youth to help discover their creativity. It also encourages artists and writers to contribute to Qatar’s cultural scene.
Katara will enter into partnerships with cultural foundations across the globe, particularly in the Gulf and Arab world, and promote interactions between Qatari and
international cultures.
Partnerships with Unesco, Kennedy Art Centre in Washington and Qatar Foundation will help Katara benefit from their experience in organising programmes and projects that target the youth.