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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.”

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