Doha is All Set to Dazzle Arab world
Doha is set to captivate the attention of the Arab world as it stages the biggest cultural event in its history, affirming its role as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2010 with a rich line-up of events starting later this month.
H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, yesterday formally announced the events in store for the first quarter during a press conference at the Qatar International Exhibition Center.
“At the cultural level, it is a special occasion in which Qatar witnesses the biggest cultural event in its history: Doha has become a space open to expressions of cultural creativity in various forms,” said Dr Al Kuwari, who is also the president of the Supreme Committee of Preparation for the Celebration of 2010 Doha Capital of Arab Culture.
He lauded the active participation of various ministries and public and private institutions, particularly those related to cultural activities, like Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Qatar Museums Authority and the Cultural Village. He said though it was the commitment of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage to celebrate the event, the 2010 Doha Capital of Arab Culture required the participation of everybody, it being a national event.
Around 50 events, comprising performing and visual arts, music, film festivals, conferences, cultural weeks, cultural salons and poetry sessions, will be held during the first phase of the year-long cultural celebration.
In addition, events related to heritage, children and youth, the environment and publications will feature in the first three months of the festivities.
Highlighting the inauguration of the year-long cultural event will be the ‘Bait Al Hikma’ (House of Wisdom) opera, which profiles Abbasid Caliph Abdallah Al Mamoun bin Haroun Al Rachid. To be held at the Sheraton Doha on January 28, the musical drama centres on his creation of a centre for scientific knowledge (house of wisdom), which had an impact on Arab and Islamic countries.
Other performing arts events will include the play ‘The Pearl between Dasha and Gaffal’, an opera titled ‘Abu Al Qasim Al Shabi’ and ‘The Black Century’, inspired by The Arabian Nights and written by Qatari playwright Hamad Al Rumaihi. Visiting troupes from India and Russia are also expected to enthral Doha audiences.
Over 500 pieces of the most famous pearls in the world, with the biggest pearl weighing six kilos, will feature in the months-long ‘The Pearl Exhibition’ at the Museum of Islamic Arts, starting January 29. Expositions on painting, calligraphy, architecture and other art forms, both by homegrown and visiting experts, are also set to attract visitors with a penchant for the visual arts.
Enhancing the diversity of the events will be musical ensembles and singers from various countries including Japan, Poland, Syria, Qatar, Tunisia and Morocco.
Seminars will also be organised on subjects such as ‘Issue of Arab cultural heritage between borders of identity and perspectives of globalization’, ‘The position of the language academies towards the discourse of Arabic language in Arabic media’ and ‘The future of science in the Arab world’.
The event will also focus on children and the youth by holding traditional games and a number of workshops, festivals, sports competitions and forums. Drawing attention to environmental issues will be a conference on the marine environment, with an aquatic show also being held.
The event’s monthly magazine, called Al Asima (The Capital) 2010 Magazine, will also be launched soon along with the website www.doha2010.com.qa .
In 2002, ministers for cultural affairs in the Arab world decided that Doha would be the 2010 Capital of Arab Culture.
RAYNALD C RIVERA
The Peninsula