The sixth Qatar British Festival, which celebrates the strong and ongoing cultural relationship between the two countries, will take place in Doha from November 18 to December 7, it was announced Sunday.
British ambassador Ajay Sharma, Katara Cultural Village general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, and British Council Qatar director Sam Ayton were present at the launch press conference at Katara.
“The annual Qatar British Festival is a proof of the strong relationship between Qatar and the UK," said al-Sulaiti.
"We are very pleased to partner with the British embassy and British Council, for the 6th year in a row, to make the Qatar British Festival come to life and allow people from all walks of life to explore how you can use arts as a lens to better understand each other’s cultures and learn from each other’s heritage.
“As ‘Strategic Cultural Partner’ of the Qatar British Festival, we look forward to hosting a part of the programme that helps our visitors explore the festival,” he stated.
The festival’s theme this year – People and Place – will examine the impact of “place” on people and in turn, people's impact on “place” and the long-lasting, positive effects of cultural connection and exchange between the people of Qatar and the people of the UK.
“The Qatar British Festival is a visible embodiment of the strong relationship between the UK and Qatar,” Sharma said. “It is a celebration of our cultures and through the various events on the programme, it provides a unique and vibrant way of bringing people together.
“We are delighted that we are holding the festival for sixth year.”
The festival will conclude with the Qatar-UK Alumni Awards, a celebration of the enduring success cultural exchange can bring to societies, through education.
“Our birthplace, where and how we are schooled, and the places we live, all make a lasting imprint on the people we are today. The theme of this year’s festival seeks to explore the intricate relationship between people and place and the enduring legacy that comes from cultural exchange,” Ayton noted.
The festival features “Every Thing Every Time”, a public art installation by Future Everything.
This is a ground-breaking installation which blurs art and technology.
It is real-time digital writing that takes data from its position in a city and turns it into a constantly changing poem about the location.
Another event is “The Place I Call Home”, a contemporary photography exhibition that explores the idea of “home”, related to the experiences of young people living in the region and the UK at a time of rapid change and social mobility.
It also includes Elgar Enigma Variations: award-winning concert violinist Savitri Grier performs two famous pieces by Edward Elgar, *Enigma Variations and *Violin Concerto, with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
The “Strategic Partner” of the festival is Katara Cultural Village, the “Legacy Partner” is Qatar Museums, and the “Strategic Community Partner” is Qatar National Library.
Gulf Times is the “Media Partner” of the festival.
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