The American School of Doha welcomed 65 art educators from more than 25 countries.
Doha, Qatar: The American School of Doha (ASD) recently hosted the Global Art Teachers Exchange (GATE), an international conference that brings together visual arts educators from around the world to collaborate, learn, and celebrate creativity.
Established in 2018, GATE provides relevant, practical, and affordable professional development designed specifically for visual arts teachers. Each year, a different international school hosts this independently organized and funded event, with the goal of fostering collaboration and the exchange of innovative teaching practices.
This year, the American School of Doha successfully hosted the conference, welcoming 65 art educators, from more than 25 countries, for a weekend of immersive workshops, presentations, and cultural excursions. The programme aimed to inspire new ideas and strengthen global connections in arts education.
“After a year of preparation, from proposal to selection among top international schools, we were thrilled to open our doors to art educators from across the globe,” said Klara Hermanek, ASD Visual Arts teacher and GATE team lead. “Our Visual Arts team is passionate about creating an environment where creativity, expertise, and collaboration thrive. Hosting GATE was a chance to share the love of art teaching with colleagues worldwide.”
Spearheaded by Inge Winters, Joni Muller, Carla Otero, Wendy Zarter, Klara Hermanek, Ryan Pace, Liz Estudillo, and John Venditti, the ASD Visual Arts Department led the event, showcasing the school’s dedication to artistic excellence and global engagement.
At the heart of GATE is its participatory model: attendees lead workshops, facilitate discussions, and share classroom-ready resources. Sessions ranged from early childhood to high school art education, emphasizing hands-on, practical approaches directly applicable to the classroom.
The conference concluded with a strong sense of community and renewed enthusiasm for teaching the visual arts, underscoring the universal power of art to connect people across cultures and inspire lifelong learning.
