Art enthusiasts in Qatar had the opportunity to meet and interact with 19 artists currently participating in the Artist in Residence programme during the Open Studio night at the Doha Fire Station Wednesday. 
A recurring event, which allows members of the community to speak to the artists, discuss about their work, and explore the Fire Station, has become a much-anticipated part of the programme. 
Participating artists include: Shaikha Jassim al-Hardan, Sarah Hassan al-Ansari, Mohamed Faraj al-Suwaidi, Abdulla Najib al-Kuwari, Maryam Masoud Alameri, Nayla al-Mulla, Faisal Rashid al-Hajri, Lolwa al-Solaiti, Sara Ahmad al-Fadaaq, Rouda Abdulaziz M A al-Khori (all from Qatar), Federica Visani (Italy), Hassan Manasrah (Jordan), Alaa Bata (Jordan), Michael Perrone (US), Jesse Payne (US), Guillaume Claude Felicien Rousere (France, Metropolitan), Nourbano Feras al-Hejazi (Saudi Arabia), Sidra Zubairi (Pakistan), and Iman Meky (Egypt), 
Artists displayed their current works, including a variety of media such as fashion, visual art, and graphic design, among others.
“The Artist in Residence programme is part of Qatar Museums’ (QM) commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the country and providing platforms where creativity can thrive. The Open Studio Night is proving once again to be one of our most popular events as it allows the public to see how far our artists have come ahead of the Artist in Residence exhibition in July,” Fire Station director Khalifa Al Obaidly said.
“We are very excited to see what our talents will show us in a few months and I invite all members of the community to visit us then to see the final pieces,” he added.
Launched under the patronage of QM chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Fire Station offers artists in Qatar the chance to immerse themselves in their work for a period of nine-months. 
The residency provides participating artists with individualised studios and the chance to collaborate with fellow creatives and find ways to develop and explore their own techniques. They also meet curators, access all QM exhibitions and are encouraged to join workshops and lectures.
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