Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture Opening
This year marks the 10th Year of Culture, and with the creation of several collaborations over the past decade, Qatar Museums’ annual initiative, “Years of Culture,” will celebrate the cultures spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA). From Qatar-Japan in 2012 until now, this year marks the first time that a Year of Culture will celebrate an entire region, MENASA. Programming for Qatar-MENASA 2022 covers several countries and communities including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Egypt, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The program was officially inaugurated by Her Excellency, Lolwah Rashid Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar at an opening ceremony on the evening of March 3rd. Hosted at the Doha Fire Station, the event welcomed leaders and dignitaries from Qatar and the representing countries from across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to an evening of music, film, and cuisine.
The celebration continued into the following day for the public, with film screenings provided by Doha Film Institute and musical performances from Dana Al Fardan and more. Qatar-MENASA 2022 programming offers a year of the specially curated museum and art exhibitions; film, music, and food festivals; and other cultural exchanges taking place between Qatar and other nations across the MENASA region.
Qatar-MENASA Year of Culture 2022 was developed in collaboration with leading organizations in Qatar, including Doha Film Institute, Education Above All, Katara Cultural Village, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Charity, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, Qatar National Tourism Council, Qatar Olympic Committee, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, with assistance from Doha-based embassies of participating countries.
Qatar introduced its Year of Culture initiative in 2012 under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, partnering each year with a different nation for a series of cultural exchanges designed to bring the world to Qatar and the best of Qatar to the world.