The deadline for the ‘Artist in Residence’ programme for the September 2021-June 2022 period has been extended until December 1 this year, allowing more local artists to submit their application, Qatar Museums (QM) has announced. 
The nine-month residency at the Doha Fire Station provides an opportunity for Qatari and Qatar-based artists (with valid QID) to develop their creative practice and “take their passion to the next level”.
The programme is open to all artistic practices, which include but not limited to visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, media art, installation, graphic arts, illustration, etc.), photography, film, sound art, design, and literature. 
Successful applicants (who will be notified by March 2021) will work in a dedicated studio and take part in a series of workshops and activities which involve sharing of knowledge with other artists.
Previous editions of the programme saw participants taking part in lectures, weekly mentoring sessions, working with curators, and meeting arts professionals from around the world. It also gave them access to all exhibitions. Artists are given the chance to showcase their works in a public exhibition at Doha Fire Station’s Garage Gallery by the end of their residency, according to QM.
QM established two extensions of the Residency programme: one in Paris (Cité internationale des Arts), France and in New York (Studio 209), USA, giving local artists more exposure and helped them to further enhance their artistic talent and creativity.
The renowned Cité internationale des Arts is one of the biggest and most important art residencies in the world with 325 residency studios and with artists in residence from more than 55 countries. 
The three-month programme in the two cities provides talented individuals in Qatar with studio accommodation space and the chance to be fully immersed in Paris’ and New York City’s art and culture scenes.
An artist in residence at the Doha Fire Station in 2018-2019, Mohamed Faraj al-Suwaidi, also an architect, animator and designer, opened his exhibition titled ‘Digital Transactions’ at the Doha Fire Station in January this year. 
The show, QM said, “introduces al-Suwaidi’s exploration during his residency at International Studio & Curatorial Programme in New York in 2019.”
“The exhibited works include a series of digital prints, composed of scenes captured around New York and altered using 3D software in a repetitive manner. 
These scenes are digitised into virtual immersive spaces that the viewer can be part of,” QM said.
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