As part of its continued mission to take art beyond four walls, Qatar Museums (QM) will host Fannek, a month-long public art initiative that provides a gateway for the museum’s Culture Pass members to explore the country’s public art scene through tours, talks and workshops.

Throughout the month of November, Culture Pass members can look forward to a host of informative and culturally stimulating events that will introduce them to the many public artworks and artists who have contributed to Qatar’s vibrant public art scene.

These include a tour of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park on November 7, which is home to some of Doha’s first public artworks commissioned by QM. This tour will give guests the chance to experience Richard Serra’s famous ‘7’ overlooking Doha’s skyline as well as an interactive artwork entitled ‘Folded Extracted Personified’ inspired by MIA’s collection by British artist, Liam Gillick.

The month-long drive also features a public art tour of the National Museum of Qatar on November 21, spanning both its outdoor and indoor spaces with focus on artworks such Jean-Michel Othoniel’s fountain sculptures ‘Alfa’ and Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed al-Thani’s ‘Motherland’, representing the region’s last generation of women who wore the battoula.

“Our annual Fannek initiative is dedicated to highlighting the importance of public art in humanising urban spaces and sparking constructive debate on topical issues of global relevance. Our Culture Pass members can look forward to a host of tours and workshops that will showcase the striking public art installations that weave together the country’s past and present while imagining its future,” QM’s Public Art Department acting director Eng. Abdulrahman Ahmad al-Ishaq said in a press statement.

A trip to Zekreet on November 14 invites Culture Pass members to explore East-West/West-East by renowned artist, Richard Serra. The installation spans over a kilometre in length and crosses the peninsula of the Brouq Nature Reserve connecting the waters of the Gulf.

Meanwhile, on November 28, QM invites Culture Pass members to meet some of the artists who have collaborated in rejuvenating some of the city’s shared urban spaces as part of the ‘Jedariart’ initiative – an open call that invited artists to activate Doha’s city walls with public art pieces.

The tour provides a chance to experience Doha’s new urban surroundings against the city’s traditional backdrop at the Fire Station.