DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) officially launched Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture at a VIP reception at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
Qatar Turkey 2015 celebrates bilateral relations through cultural partnerships between Qatari and Turkish organisations, institutions and individuals.
Events will be grouped under four main categories — Art & Culture; Community & Education’ Sports; and Business and Trade.
In a statement, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson, QM, said, “Culture and art support the realisation of our national vision. The success of Qatar Brazil Year demonstrated how important art and culture are in bridging between nations, connecting people and encouraging cultural exchange.
“I’m excited and proud to celebrate the strong artistic heritage and links between Qatar and Turkey this year. Doing so will promote mutual understanding and strengthen our ties. It will also support and inspire the next generation of cultural audiences and ideas. I look forward to what promises to be an incredible year.”
An ensemble of traditional Turkish instruments set the mood for the year and entertained over 100 VIP guests from Turkey and Qatar as they celebrated the start of the year.
The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, the Undersecretary at the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Professor Ahmet Haluk Dursun, Qatari Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi and Turkish Ambassador to Qatar Ahmet Demirok were also present.
“Based on the success of previous years, we look forward to the year that will feature events involving Qatari and Turkish people. This platform of communication opens many doors in the fields of culture, sports and business, which will open up long-term relationships between institutions and individuals in both countries,” Dr Al Kuwari said.
Professor Dursun said: “It is a pleasure for me to be here at this unique museum in Doha for the opening ceremony of the year. Doha is the glittering pearl of the Gulf, with which we have been enjoying friendly relations for 500 years.”
Al Shafi said, “relations between both countries are historically founded on brotherhood, mutual understanding and respect, based on the great legacy of shared history and civilisation between the two peoples. We hope that the year will highlight that the strategic nature of cultural activities between both countries is not limited to a specific time-frame, but has a continuous legacy that will feed into the framework of strategic cooperation.”
The Peninsula
