Inaugural Katara Global Art Fair to benefit Argentinian children

In yet another pioneering initiative, Pallas Arts and Katara Cultural Village Foundation have joined hands for a new project called Katara Global Art Fair (KatArt), a contemporary art fair aimed at promoting local and international artists while contributing to children’s education in various countries.
“The Katara Global Art Fair (KatArt) in Doha is a contemporary art fair, which aims to introduce collective and solo projects from leading and emerging local and international artists. Its concept was developed in 2019 by Pallas Arts in partnership with the Katara Cultural Village, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Mariame Farqane, CEO of Pallas Arts, which is Qatar’s first registered arts brokerage.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the new project, Farqane highlighted the vibrant art landscape of Qatar as ideal to host such international event.
“It is undeniable that the arts and culture scene in Qatar has been flourishing, to the extent of drawing the world’s attention. Doha’s cultural environment today makes it an ideal location for an international art fair. Qatar is indeed poised to become a major international hub for art and culture and join the ranks of such major centers as Paris or New York,” she said.
Darwish S. Ahmed Al Shebani, Director of Cultural Affairs in Katara, stressed Katara takes the concept of art exhibitions to the next level through this upcoming fair saying it will be a first for Katara “designed very carefully to be recognized as an international event.”
As Secretary General of Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet), Al Shebani vowed support for the project encouraging participation from member countries as well as from embassies and artists from different parts of the world.
The first edition of the fair, Farqane said, will benefit children in Argentina through the Margarita Barrientos Foundation. “This year we are collaborating with Argentina. We are helping them to build cultural centres for those children and we are implementing it with very revolutionary education system which is absolutely new and it is going to be our pilot project this year with Argentina,” she said.
H E Carlos Hernandez, Ambassador of Argentina to Qatar expressed appreciation for having an Argentinean foundation to be the first beneficiary of the project calling the initiative “completely innovative and showing a clear commitment for art, education, and solidarity.”
“The Embassy of Argentina has deep appreciation for Pallas Arts for this art and education project which will strongly contribute to the cultural benefit of poor kids in our country. This is something new which combines culture and education for kids in need. Pallas Arts is going to work with an important foundation in Argentina which look after more than 8,000 kids on a daily basis regarding their needs for food, health care and education,” said Hernandez.
KatArt’s first edition will take place in October and will offer an ideal platform of interaction between collectors, artists, photographers, designers and other art professionals. The art fair will feature live performances in addition to the exposition of numerous paintings, sculptures, photographs, among many other art pieces.
A preview of the first edition of the fair will open tomorrow and run until January 22 at Katara. “This will serve as teaser and officially introduce the fair. The preview will feature artists from the US, France, Spain, the UK, Philippines, India and other countries as well as artworks from GPDNet countries,” said Farqane.
Facundo Chadini, Director of Margarita Barrientos Foundation and Hamzah Taleb, CEO of Outbox, also spoke at the press conference held at Katara Building 15 yesterday.