Minister of Culture Inaugurates Freej Art and Design Festival

English , Qatar - قطر , Snippets , / Friday, November 1st, 2024

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Doha, October 31 (QNA) – HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the first edition of the Freej Art and Design Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture at the permanent Darb Al Saai site in the Umm Salal area.
The event was attended by several esteemed ministers, ambassadors accredited to the state, along with a gathering of intellectuals, artists, and media representatives.
The festival, which runs until Nov. 6, aims to celebrate Qatars contemporary art scene, foster connections, and create an interactive platform for artists to highlight diverse artistic expressions. It also seeks to enrich Qatars cultural landscape, aiming to establish itself as a global platform celebrating artistic creativity, cultural exchange, and dialogue between artists and audiences.
The Minister toured various festival sections, visiting artist studios and the Arabian Illuminations exhibit, which features Qatari and Arab galleries. He also inaugurated a prominent exhibition showcasing works by the pioneering Qatari artist Youssef Ahmed.
The Arabian Illuminations exhibition brings together artists from diverse backgrounds, each with a unique visual identity, representing various artistic paths, including both late and contemporary artists continuing the journey.
Additionally, HE the minister attended the launch of a book titled Through the Eyes of Qatari Art, produced in a deluxe edition, at a special session on the main stage.
In a statement, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali Al Maadid explained that the cultural season launched by the ministry, beginning with the Freej Art and Design Festival, is intended to establish an interactive platform for intellectuals, creatives, artists, poets, and the public, fostering productive cultural dialogue that supports the state’s cultural development efforts.
He noted that the Freej Art and Design Festival attracts the general public and those interested in art and cultural creativity by offering a diverse range of events, exhibitions, and workshops that directly contribute to enhancing and enriching the cultural scene in Qatar through building bridges between artists and audiences.
Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali emphasized that the festival is an opportunity to showcase the talents of artists from Qatar and abroad, supporting young, talented creators through the exchange of artistic skills and experiences.
HE Iraqs Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Dr. Ahmed Al Fakkak Al Badrani expressed that the Freej Art and Design Festival serves as a cultural platform benefiting all visitors, highlighting the festivals focus on training children and youth in various cultural activities that reflect diverse aspects of cultural life.
He noted that Qatars cultural experience is pioneering in the Arab world, serving as a bridge between Qatar’s past and its future, and praised the significant progress Qatar has achieved across political, cultural, artistic, and various other fields.
The Iraqi minister acknowledged the cultural collaboration between Qatar and Iraq, which he stated is longstanding, noting that many creative Iraqi artists reside in Qatar.