
Qatar's cultural program published on SPIEF official website
Qatar's
cultural program at the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
reveals three large-scale projects representing the historical traditions and
contemporary art of the country. All the
activities will be held at different venues around St. Petersburg and open to
the public.
As guest country to
SPIEF 2021, the State of Qatar will host the Qatar National Pavilion at the
forum venue, which will showcase the economic capabilities of the Middle East
country as comprehensively as possible.
An intense business
agenda at SPIEF 2021 will be complemented by a wide-ranging cultural program:
the Mawaheb festival explores the musical culture of the Middle East and North
Africa to the public, an exhibition at the Russian Museum of Ethnography
presents the history of Qatar through unique artifacts, and the Qatar Film Days
Festival is a showcase for the Qatari film industry. All three projects are organized by the
Culture Creative Agency (CCA) under the auspices of the Qatari-Russian Center
for Cooperation.
“It
is truly a pleasure to be a part of this international event, which is a window
for us to showcase our authentic culture and heritage to all visitors of the
Forum, especially in a prominent city such as Saint Petersburg, which is
considered one of the richest countries in the world culturally with a people
with passion for art, history and culture.
The “Qatar between Land and Sea, Art and Legacy” exhibition is a great
opportunity for people from around the world to explore the very precious
elements of the Qatari and Middle Eastern tradition and lifestyle, such as
handmade carpets and artifacts, pearls, and antique jewelry, which makes it a
magical journey through history,” H.E. Sheikh
Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Founder and Chairman of
the Board of Trustees of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum said. “I look forward to representing our beloved
Country in the best way possible, and to taking part in similar future
large-scale events. I hope this exhibition will be successful and that it will
be able to attract a wide range of visitors to enjoy these artifacts.”
“Qatar
between Land and Sea. Art and Legacy” exhibition at the
Russian Museum of Ethnography will
display artworks and artifacts that tell about the traditions and lifestyles in
Qatar. A display of the
project includes handmade carpets, rare samples of deep-sea pearls, a
collection of antique jewelry and weapons, and other historical artifacts from
the National Museum of Qatar, the private collection of Sheikh Faisal bin
Qassim Al Thani, and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf). The exhibition
will open its doors from June 5 to August 22, 2021.
"Qatar's cultural program at SPIEF 2021
shows a synthesis of tradition with modernity. It gives a new perspective on
Qatar, shows it from a different angle. This contributes to a deeper
understanding between our countries, strengthens trust, and expands
opportunities for intercultural and economic interaction. Culture and creative
industries today make a significant contribution to the sustainable development
of society and the competitiveness of the economies of many countries," Chief Executive Officer
of QRCC Diana Charmadova stated.
Qatar Film Days Festival, a joint initiative of Doha Film Institute and ССА, will discover contemporary cinema of MENA countries (the Middle East
and North Africa) for the Russian audience. A series of film screenings on June
4-6, 2021, in the Sevkabel Port are the best feature and documentary films of
the region, including Oscar nominees, participants and winners of Cannes,
Toronto, Venice, IDFA, and SXSW. The
documentary "Notturno" about the life of people from Syria, Lebanon,
and Iraq will premiere in Russia at the festival. It was directed by Gianfranco
Rosi, the first documentary filmmaker in history to win the main prizes of
Venice and Berlin. All of these films are shaping the new language of Arabic
cinema produced in Qatar with the support of the Doha Film Institute. Qatar Film Days
Festival website: https://qatarfilmdays.ru
“Over the past decade, we have focused on
working towards the goals of Qatar's 2030 vision to build a knowledge-based
economy by promoting the creative skills of our youth, particularly in film. As
a medium with universal resonance and is also the most popular and accessible,
film helps promote a deeper understanding of the world we live in, to realise
collective dreams and become a vehicle for positive change. Films also help
overcome geographic boundaries and connect us with nations, cultures, and people
unknown. By promoting dialogue on film and culture with Qatar Film Days in
Russia, we are also facilitating a stronger understanding of the cultural
identity of Qatar and the wider Arab region. At this time of uncertainty and
physical separation, it is essential to continue to foster these important
connections and support the diversity of perspectives to build a brighter
future”, Fatma Al Remaihi, Doha Film Institute's CEO, said.
Mawaheb Music
Festival (Mahaweb means “talents” in
Arabic) will explore new performers from Qatar and other countries of the
Middle East and North Africa for music lovers of St. Petersburg. The festival will feature audiovisual
concerts, night DJ sets, a musical picnic by the water, lectures, and
workshops. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the SOUND UP Orchestra will
open the festival. Concert on June 4-6, 2021 will be held in leading venues of
St. Petersburg. Mawaheb Music Festival website: https://mawaheb.ru.
“Our
projects aim at creating a complex vision of modern Qatar, one of the key
factors in shaping the cultural agenda of MENA countries,” Anastasia Shavlokhova,
Managing Director of the Cultural Creative Agency, said. “The goal of the program is to develop international communication in
culture and strengthen networks between Qatari and Russian institutions. We
decided to present interactive and accessible formats of events, revealing to a
wide audience different aspect of life in Qatar and the entire region.”
For further details:
Valeriya
Agafonova
Head
of special projects CCA
E-mail: v.agafonova@qatarrussia.ru Cell: +7 967 298 5818
Darya
Yevseyeva, Qatar Media Office at SPIEF 2021
media_spief@qatarrussia.ru Cell: +7 921 969 7028
Hala
Kassab, Head of Media at SPIEF 2021
h.kassab@qatarrussia.ru Cell: +974 3300 0216