The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) puts a spotlight on the significant role traditional handicrafts play in the country, curating a series of workshops which will kick off this Sunday.
At the core of this month-long summer programme are popular handicrafts which have been vital to Qatari life especially during the pre-oil era.
“The various crafts consist of design and decorative patterns which are integral to Qatari identity. These patterns are the product of intellectual, cultural and scientific formation, instinctively and professionally transmitted over generations,” said NMoQ on its website.
In particular, the workshops will centre on crafts Qataris used to make during summer, and take inspiration from objects displayed in the NMoQ galleries.
Slated from July 7 to 10, the first workshop will focus on “Creating Net Sculptures” inspired by traditional coastal marine crafts related to fishing which was a chief source of income in the past.
The second workshop, scheduled from July 14 to 17, will feature “The Craft of Rope Making” – an ancient dying craft which will be revived through the workshop as participants create earth friendly products including rope bags, photo frames and decoration for pottery.
The programme will also highlight one of the oldest industries in Qatar through “The World of the Goldsmith” workshop in collaboration with Aldiwan Jewelry. In this workshop, which runs from July 21 to 24, participants will get the chance to design and make their own jewellery.
Ubiquitous on streets, parks and gardens all over the country; date palms hold a very important place in Qatari society. Apart from their fruits, date palms are useful in making objects utilized in daily life, some of which will be made by participants in the “Organic Creations: Crafting with Palm Leaves (Al Khous)” workshop running from July 28 to 31.
With its distinct floral and geometric designs, gypsum handicraft is famous in Qatar used to decorate and cool facades of buildings.
NMoQ has partnered with Girls Creativity Centre for the workshop scheduled from August 4 to 8 called “Gypsum Carving and Decoration” in which participants will be taught to make their own decorated gypsum panels.
The objects created by the participants at the workshops will be exhibited at the conclusion of the programme.
The workshops are open to those aged 14 and above and can be availed with a fee of QR250. Sessions are conducted in Arabic and English from 5pm to 7pm at the NMoQ Galleries and Learning Studio. Since slots are limited, interested participants are required to book at [email protected]
