How much do you know about the culture of Qatar? If the answer is ‘not as much as I’d like’ then you may be interested to hear about a program set up in 2012 by Qatar to share its history and culture with other countries. It’s called the Years of Culture program and is spearheaded by Qatar Museums.
What is the Years of Culture initiative?
The Years of Culture initiative is a multi-year program that is all about sharing Qatar with the world. The country has so much to offer and wants the rest of the world to know it! Every year the Years of Culture committee chooses a country to partner with, and throughout the year both countries learn from each other and help to promote each other more widely.
One of the key objectives of the Years of Culture initiative is to promote cultural diplomacy and foster mutual understanding between Qatar and its partner countries. This isn’t just about tourism or increasing visitors to the country, it’s about building bridges of friendship and cooperation that go beyond geographical boundaries and political differences. Years of Culture aims to create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to come together, learn from one another, and celebrate the richness and diversity of human culture.
What happens every year as part of the Years of Culture program?
There’s always plenty going on every year as part of the program, so whether you want to watch a performance or peruse an exhibition, you’re sure to find something of interest. The point of the initiative is to show off not just Qatar, but the culture of the partner country too, so expect lots of activity highlighting anything unique to that country. In the past, this has included everything from the vibrant colors of India’s festivals to the intricate calligraphy of Iran – it’s about taking visitors on a journey into cultural tapestries.
Visitors can attend art exhibitions featuring the works of renowned artists, watch performances showcasing traditional music and dance, and even get the chance to get hands on too by taking part in workshops to learn traditional crafts and skills. There are discussions and lectures which cover various aspects of culture and heritage too, providing plenty of chance to deep dive into a range of topics and learn as much as possible. The wide range of events ensures that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re an art aficionado, a history buff, or simply curious about the world around you.
Who is the current Years of Culture partner?
In 2024 Years of Culture will celebrate the friendship and collaboration between Qatar and Morocco. Partner countries chosen to take part in previous years include the UK, Germany, France, India, the USA, Brazil, Turkey, China, Russia, and the MENASA region.
Morocco is an absolutely fascinating country with an incredibly vibrant culture to explore. It’s a partnership that promises to deliver a really interesting program of activities with plenty of color and energy to boot.
What has been happening already?
If you’re new to the Years of Culture program then you might like a quick recap of everything that has been happening already in the Qatar – Morocco partnership year. These events have already happened, but they give you a good idea of how much there is going on every year and what to expect in 2025 with a new partner country too.
Qatar International Food Festival 2024
The ten-day long food festival took place in February and was a feast for all the senses, celebrating the best cuisine from both nations. The Qatar International Food Festival is open to everyone each year and is the perfect opportunity to come together with friends and family.
Moroccan Night at the Museum
In March the Museum of Islamic Art held a Moroccan Night at the Museum, offering visitors the chance to explore and celebrate Moroccan culture in a truly stunning venue.
The Years of Culture program for 2024
There are plenty of events still coming up, including longer-running exhibitions that are happening throughout the year. It’s a good idea to visit the official website for up-to-date information, but here’s a snapshot of some of the highlights that are still to come as part of the Years of Culture 2024 program.
Moroccan Artefacts in the Museum of Islamic Art Permanent Collection
The permanent collection at the Museum of Islamic Art already includes quite a few artifacts celebrating Moroccan culture, so the museum is well worth a visit as part of your exploration of Moroccan history and art. Look out for an astrolabe, a beautiful Moroccan bridal necklace and earrings, and a collection of Hadith among other things.
Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art features Moroccan artists
You can find work from Moroccan artists in several of the permanent galleries at the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art. Look out for the beautiful ink drawing and bold color paintings of Chaibia Talal in Gallery 8, featuring depictions of everyday life and family.
Gallery 11 features work by Mohamed Melehi Melehi is a well-known conteporary Moroccan artist, admired for his work around geometric abstraction. Those visiting before May 4th will have also found work by Moroccan artists in the exhibition ‘Distilled Lessons: Abstraction in Arab Modernism.’
Design Doha
Set up by Qatar Museums, Design Doha is a brand-new biennial showcase for Qatar’s thriving design community. The program of events as part of Design Doha has been curated with a lot of care to include a range of world-class exhibitions and events all focussed on celebrating cultural innovation and excellence in design.
The aims behind the Years of Culture program are simple – to celebrate both Qatar and its partner countries and to get more people excited about the culture, art and history of each nation. With such an interesting range of events happeneing throughout the year it’s safe to say it does exactly that.
Here’s to many more years of the initiative – we look forward to seeing what 2025 holds.
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