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Fire Station, Qatar Museums' contemporary art hub, has announced the Open Call for the second edition of its Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) 2027, inviting emerging visual artists from Qatar and around the world to apply for the fully funded nine-month programme, which will run from March to November 2027.The programme, led by internationally acclaimed artist and Fire Station Artistic Director Wael Shawky, offers a transformative opportunity for emerging and passionate artists to engage in an immersive, interdisciplinary environment where they can develop their practice through studio-based learning, critical dialogue, mentorship, and interdisciplinary exchange.The programme brings together 25 emerging Qatari and international artists, providing participants with the chance to refine their technical skills, broaden their conceptual approaches, and expand their artistic practice through a rigorous curriculum that combines practical experience with theoretical learning.The AISP offers an intensive, nine-month curriculum that includes practice-based workshops, seminars, group critiques, and lectures led by established artists, curators, and theorists. This combination of studio work, theoretical input and critical discourse aims to supplement traditional art education and nurture a new generation of innovative, critical artists.The programme not only offers an immersive learning experience but also provides participating artists with a platform to showcase the work developed throughout the programme in a final exhibition curated by Wael Shawky, marking the culmination of their experimental learning journey. "The Artists Intensive Study Programme is designed to create an environment where artists are encouraged to challenge their practice, exchange ideas across cultures, and develop new ways of thinking. By bringing together emerging artists from diverse backgrounds alongside internationally recognised artists and practitioners, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue that broadens contemporary intellectual discourse beyond the Western Hemisphere. Through a curriculum shaped by diverse perspectives, the programme cultivates a unique network of global cultural communities," said Artistic Director of Fire Station, Wael Shawky. The jury for the 2027 edition comprises distinguished figures from the international arts scene, including Chairperson of Qatar Museums, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Applications close on 5 September 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews in October and November 2026, with successful applicants notified in mid-December 2026.Applications can be submitted online at: https://qmforms.qm.org.qa/form/AISP-2.

Qatar Museums (QM) Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani has inaugurated the "Portals in Flux" art exhibition at the Fire Station.Running until December 31, the exhibition, which culminated the 9th Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme at the station, showcases the artworks of 15 artists, including Salha al-Subaie, Reem al-Shammari, Sarah al-Nuaimi, Ghalia al-Mahmoudi, and Lulwah al-Mughaiseeb from Qatar.The others are Alaa al-Barazi from Syria, Alexandrine Gueran from France, Surabhi Jaykhawadd from India, Khaled al-Arabi and Reham Mohammed from Sudan, Naeema al-Mujdoubah from Jordan, Nada al-Kharashi from Egypt, John Venditti from Canada, Fatima al-Siddique from Pakistan, and Natalia Mejhia from Colombia.The artworks reflect their predilections, sources of inspiration, as well as the diverse materials they leverage to implement their ideas, from a combination of multimedia that includes sound, light, colours, metals, and ceramics.Reem al-Shammari told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the AIR helped her promote her artistic interests, blending her expertise as a jewellery designer holding a patent for engraving the eye imprint on precious metals.She employed clay and other media, along with colours, to construct an epochal obelisk reflecting the eye imprint civilisation, drawing inspiration from the obelisk as a document in the architecture of ancient civilisationsAl-Shammari further indicated that her works are inspired by heritage themes through artistic and aesthetic approaches, integrating contemporary techniques.Fatima al-Siddique told the QNA of the AIR experience included studios that are well-retrofitted, the station's supervision, the artists' interaction with one another, and the sharing of expertise.She stated that she showcased five artworks in the exhibition, along with a mural painted on a table cover, in which she drew inspiration from her cultural heritage, represented in traditions, food culture, fashion, and colours, reshaping them across the canvases in a celebration of hues and forms within this rich cultural blend.The exhibition is part of "Evolution Nation", an 18-month campaign that pays tribute to Qatar's cultural pathway spanning the past 50 years since the inception of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ).

Fire Station announced the opening of two new exhibitions that mark the completion of its 2024 Al Ruwad Residency. Threads of Memory by Haifa Al Khuzaie and Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar will showcase the unique creative visions of the two established Qatari artists, as part of Fire Station's commitment to supporting local talent across career stages. Haifa Al Khuzaie's Threads of Memory reimagines Qatari heritage through contemporary forms. Drawing on patterns from traditional jewelry, clothing, and textiles, Al Khuzaie incorporates handmade ceramics and mixed media to weave together memory, identity, and cultural continuity. Her work bridges past and present, honouring heritage while envisioning its future. Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar explores the tension between decay and preservation by reinterpreting elements drawn from daily life into minimal artistic compositions. Al Hamar's practice is rooted in materiality, texture, and layering. By inducing rust on iron sheets and interrupting its natural process, Al Hamar creates works that transform cultural motifs into powerful reflections on memory, transformation, and reinterpretation. Launched in 2021, Al Ruwad Residency supports and fosters dialogue between Qatar-based established and emerging artists. By providing time, space, and resources, the programme reinforces Fire Station's role as a hub for artistic exchange and innovation. The residency also ensures Fire Station's continued connection to local artists and creates meaningful exchanges through mentorship. Nominated by Fire Station, Al Ruwad artists participate for up to two years, gaining access to studio space and the opportunity to engage with the wider community through public programmes such as talks and workshops.

Al Markhiya Gallery is preparing to launch a new group exhibition titled “Reshaped” at the Fire Station - Artists’ Residence, on Tuesday evening, August 26, from 7 to 9pm, with the participation of a select group of Qatari and Arab artists currently working in Qatar.The exhibition brings together the works of more than twenty-five artists.In this context, Anas Qutait, art co-ordinator of Al Markhiya Gallery, said: “Through this exhibition, we are keen to present diverse artistic experiences that reflect the richness of the Arab art scene in Qatar. We emphasise the importance of materials as a partner in the creative process. The diversity of participants and their various styles give the exhibition an aesthetic and cognitive dimension that enriches the audience’s experience and exposes them to new interpretations of contemporary art.” Qutait added that the exhibition offers the public a unique opportunity to view a wide and diverse collection of artworks that reflect the spirit of experimentation and innovation among the participating artists, where materials and styles intertwine to create an integrated sensory and intellectual experience.The exhibition also provides an opportunity for visitors to interact directly with the works and explore the way each artist approaches both materials and ideas, making each painting, sculpture, or installation a unique experience that engages the senses and provokes thought.Through this diversity, the exhibition transforms into a vibrant space for contemplation and exploration, allowing the audience to experience art from a different perspective and brings them closer to understanding the depth of the creative process and the nature of the relationship between the artists and their material.This makes “Reshaped” an important addition to the cultural and artistic scene in Doha. At its core, the exhibition presents an artistic contemplation of the relationship between material, meaning, and transformation.“Reshaped” is part of Al Markhiya Gallery’s ongoing efforts to support Arab artists and highlight their experiences, while also consolidating Doha’s position as a prominent cultural destination hosting the most prominent art events in the region.