Doha: Qatar Museums (QM) will inaugurate Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar on March 24, with a dynamic and interconnected programme of exhibitions.
The inaugural festival will feature the Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Awards, commissions, collaborations, presentations and workshops that draw innovative international photography together with photographers and photographic communities in Qatar and the Western Asia and North Africa (WANA) region.
Established by QM under the leadership of its Chairperson, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and sponsored by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), the festival builds on a commitment to nurture artistic talent, develop Qatar’s arts economy and support creative industry. M7, Qatar’s new hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the creative industries, will serve as the central location for Tasweer.
“Tasweer was created to champion the medium of photography and will serve as a resource for artists in Qatar and the region,” said H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. “The development of this platform builds on the efforts of the past. The incorporation of the Sheikh Saoud Al Thani photography awards as part of this initiative is to increase the visibility of the talents that we have, and invest in the ecosystem for creative growth. The first photography award in Qatar was established more than twenty years ago — and as we look forward we will continue to grow our collections and to support aspiring photographers and collectors.”
Sheikha Al Mayassa added, “I am grateful to all the collaborators, organisations and individuals who have come together to kick start Tasweer — I have no doubt in the impact this will have to our country’s creative and economic growth.”
“We are excited to launch Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar with a robust programme of activities and exhibitions, that aim to leave an indelible mark on the industry in the region” explained Khalifa Al Obaidly, acclaimed Qatari photographer and director of Tasweer.
Abdul Rahman Abdul Latif Al Mannai, Executive Director of the Social & Sport Contribution Fund, said, “We are pleased to sponsor and support the first edition (of the photography festival), as well as Qatar Museums’ activities and events. The Fund’s support stems from our belief in the value of this distinguished cultural event, which aligns with the Fund’s goals and values aimed at community development and empowering individuals through strategic support that benefits Qatari people. This reinforces our country’s position at the regional and international levels.”
Tasweer will dedicate two awards to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani (1966-2014), one of Qatar’s greatest collectors who largely shaped the Museum of Islamic Art’s extraordinary collection. The Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Single Image Award is an annual, open call for a single image that best represents the photographer’s experience and personal narrative.
The Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Project Award on the other hand, is an annual grant award that supports photographers’ proposals for the development or completion of a photographic project. Winners of the 2021 Awards will be announced on March 24.
