Commenting on the initiative, Zeina Arida, Director of Mathaf, said: “Mathaf provides a vital platform to empower and support the local community in showcasing their work and talent. Our children and youth in particular have significant creative energy and potential. Therefore, we are pleased to invite them to take part in this competition and unleash their creativity writing short stories to mark a significant year in Qatar’s history as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. We look forward to further cooperation with the Doha Film Institute to discover and nurture the local talent.”
Three of the best stories will be selected by a jury comprising the best local writers DFI, including Mohammed Fakhroo, Shaikha alZeyara and Lubaba AlHawari. Doha Film institute is dedicated to film appreciation, education, and building a dynamic film industry that focuses on nurturing regional storytellers while being entirely global in its scope.
The winners will have the opportunity to take part in this year’s special edition of Ajyal Film Festival as jurors in the Hilal - ‘Crescent Moon’ in Arabic – Category, which consists of four feature films and a programme of shorts. The Ajyal Jury Competition is the core component of the festival, which will take place from 1 - 8 October 2022, and presents jurors with the chance to decide Ajyal’s competition winners.
Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer, DFI, said: “We are honored to partner with the Arab Museum of Modern Art – Mathaf to support youth talent development. This competition complements our mission to support the advancement of the local creative industry by focusing on nurturing youth and empowering them to pursue their passion, while contributing to our country’s creative ecosystem. By collaborating with national organisations, we are fulfilling our leadership’s vision to nurture a strong homegrown industry. We look forward to welcoming the winners of the competition to the Ajyal Jury Experience in October. Our Ajyal jurors, the very heart of this event, add exceptional value with their enthusiasm, positivity and passion for learning.”
Centered on the theme of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the short story entries should be between 1600 – 2000 words, and submitted in person at Mathaf or via email: mathaf_library@qm.org.qa before the 25 September 2022 deadline
For more information, please visit www.mathaf.org.qa
About Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art serves as the Arab world's leading modern and contemporary art museum. The Museum offers a welcoming, vibrant environment that invites evolving discussions about modern art in the region and beyond. Home to a permanent collection that offers a distinctively unique comprehensive overview of modern and contemporary art from North Africa and the Middle East, Mathaf ("museum" in Arabic) also performs a vital role as a centre for dialogue and scholarship and a resource for fostering creativity. Mathaf was opened in 2010 by Qatar Museums in partnership with Qatar Foundation (QF) and is located in Education City. The Museum was founded by H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani, who began collecting in the 1980s with the acquisition of works by Qatari artists. Sheikh Hassan later broadened his focus to include works by 20th-century artists throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arab Diaspora and objects that inspired many Arab modern artists, such as pre-Islamic works from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. An initial group of works assembled by Sheikh Hassan was donated to the public institution. Over the past decade, Mathaf has hugely contributed to research and debate around modern art contemporary art, made available to scholars and audiences through the Mathaf Encyclopedia of Modern Art and the Arab World. The Museum made itself a meeting point for scholars from across the region around education programmes, conferences, and publications. It has served as a dynamic platform for artists by facilitating the creation and exploration of contemporary works.
About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, and the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival. Future projects include the soon to open 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
About Doha Film Institute
Doha Film Institute is an independent, not-for-profit cultural organisation. It supports the growth of the local film community through cultivating film appreciation, enhancing industry knowledge and contributing to the development of sustainable creative industries in Qatar. The Institute’s platforms include funding and production of local, regional and international films; skills-sharing and mentorship programmes; film screenings; the Ajyal Film Festival; and Qumra. With culture, community, learning and entertainment at its foundation, the Institute is committed to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision for the development of a knowledge-based economy.
Find Us Online
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Instagram: @mathafmodern
Twitter: @mathafmodern
Facebook: @MathafModern
Website: https://mathaf.org.qa
Doha Film Institute
Twitter: @DohaFilm
Instagram: @DohaFilm
Facebook: DohaFilmInstitute
Website: https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/
Press Contacts
Qatar Museums
Lamis Nassar
lnassar@qm.org.qa
+974 4452 5418