Qatar Museums (QM) has launched a number of events and activities catering to a wide array of interests and artistic passions, to be hosted across its cultural institutions throughout the month of December.
Members of the community can look forward to a range of culturally enriching programmes designed to promote creativity and take art beyond four walls, QM has said in a statement.
Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
Kufic Advanced: 4pm-6pm, December 6, 13, 20 and 27
The word ‘Kufic’ is related to the city of the same name in Iraq, Kufa, and was developed from Hijazi script. Kufic calligraphy is characterised by its bold, vertical letters, which have the look of modern design. The four-part course for adults will build on the Kufic Intermediate course, introducing more complex patterns and designs.
Ruq’ah Advanced: 10.30am-12.30pm on December 12, 19 and 26
This advanced programme for children and teenagers is the highest level of Ruq’ah teaching available at MIA. The simple, clear style of Ruq’ah script is one of the earliest calligraphy styles and was invented at the Ottoman court, reaching its height of popularity in the 19th century. Once participants have mastered Ruq’ah, they can progress to the further study of Naskh, Diwani, or other related scripts.
Diwani for Beginners:10.30am-12.30pm on December 12, 19 and 26
Diwani is a style of calligraphy developed during the time of the early Ottomans. Originally developed for the diwan, Diwani was one of the secrets of the sultan’s palace and was used for writing royal decrees and other documents. Diwani calligraphy is known for its beautiful and harmonious appearance on the page. This four-part course introduces children and teenagers to this exquisite script, progressing from writing the alphabet to full sentences throughout the course of the programme. In order to take this course, one must have completed a Ruq’ah course with MIA before.
Islamic Art Club: 5pm-6.30pm on December 9
‘The Man & the Mystery: The Making of Sheikh Saoud’: how has he defined history, and what remains of his lasting legacy? One can join in the discussion with those involved in creating the exhibition, including co-curator Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya; Dr Giles Hudson (curator of Photography, Orientalist Museum); and MIA’s exhibition/collections team (Elisa Maduro and Juan Martinez).
Recycling: 10am-12noon on Saturday, December 5
Children and youth aged eight to 14 years are invited to put old boxes and tins to good use and create a new, useful and decorative objects for their homes during a workshop at the MIA Atrium. “Find out why recycling is so important to the ongoing health of our planet and how we can all contribute at home,” the statement notes.
Curator-led Tour: A Falcon’s Eye: 11am-12noon on December 8
Join exhibition curator Dr Mounia Abudaya for a tour of MIA’s special exhibition, ‘A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud al-Thani’. Sheikh Saoud was responsible for acquiring the foundation collections for many of the QM museums but as well as being an avid collector, he was also an environmentalist dedicated to saving rare species. “Learn more about this amazing man and his passion for art and knowledge in this special tour,” the statement continues.
Curator-led Tour: A Falcon’s Eye (Photography Special): 6pm to 7pm on December 10
The fourth floor galleries are currently hosting the Photography and Camera section of ‘A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud’ exhibition. Join exhibition curator Dr Giles Hudson for an informal tour of the galleries and learn more about the fascinating art of photography and its early history as well as seeing some very unusual cameras. To sign up, one has to contact [email protected]
Painting for Adults (A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud al-Thani): 5.30pm to 7.30pm, December 13 to 16
“Improve your painting skills” through painting one of the magnificent objects in ‘A Falcon’s Eye’ exhibition. This workshop will allow participants to work on their artistic visual skills by mixing colours and painting on canvas and paper.
Clay inspired by A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud al-Thani: 5pm-7pm, December 21-23
Inspired by an inscribed jar from ‘A Falcon’s Eye’ exhibition, in this course students will work with clay, using coiling technique and practice on the proportions, starting with the basic form and ending up working on the details.
National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
Travellers to Qatar from the Past: 6pm-7pm, December 2
Over the centuries, people from different countries have visited the shores of Qatar. But who were these people and why did they come? The National Museum contains many of the diaries, letters and records of these travellers, which tell of their perceptions of Qatar. Join the webinar to find out what they wrote. The webinar will be hosted in Arabic, with simultaneous English translation.
Story of the National Flag: 6pm-7pm on December 9
The national flag “connects our present to our past and instils in us the sense of belonging and loyalty to our great country”. The flag has a unique story and a long history behind its current form. Join this webinar to hear its interesting story. The webinar will be held in Arabic, with simultaneous English translation.
Exploring the Poetry of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani: 6pm-7.30pm on December 16
The poetry of Sheikh Jassim can be found throughout NMoQ. But what do we know of this very important person in Qatari history? Join the special webinar and discover who Sheikh Jassim was, his role in Qatar’s history, and why his poetry appears at the National Museum.
The webinar will be held in Arabic, with simultaneous English translation.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Artist Encounters with artist Ebtisam al-Saffar: 4pm-7pm on December 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
Mathaf offers a unique opportunity for adults to work with artists to design a series of workshops that link an element of their personal creative process with an aspect related to the creation of the artworks in the Mathaf Collection.
For a full list of upcoming events and activities, one can visit http://www.qm.org.qa/en/programs-calendar.
National Museum of Qatar
