Years of Culture

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Qatar-UK 2013 Year of Culture Logo with the letters Uk written in thick font above.

Qatar - UK 2013

2nd edition of Years of Culture

In 2013, Qatar and the UK celebrated a year of cultural exchanges aimed at forging new partnerships and promoting awareness and appreciation of each other’s culture, achievements, and heritage.
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Museum of Islamic Art lit up at night, with large photos printed on panels leading to the entrance.

12 years of culture

Discover

Forging New Partnerships And Promoting Awareness And Appreciation of Each Other’s Culture

Throughout 2013, audiences in Qatar and the UK had the opportunity to discover shared values and common interests through the arts, festivals, theatre performances and more. Showcasing the depth and breadth of their relations, Qatar hosted an exhibition for the British artist Damien Hirst titled “Relics” which was the biggest solo exhibition of the artist in the Middle East and at Victoria and Albert Museum in London the Pearls Exhibition opened telling the story of the natural history of pearls and the pearl fishing trade from across the Arabian Gulf to Europe and Asia since Antiquity.

View of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben clock tower and pedestrians from Westminster Bridge in London on a rainy day.
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View of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben clock tower and pedestrians from Westminster Bridge in London on a rainy day.

Qatar welcomed the world premiere of Globe Education’s Romeo and Juliet ahead of its sold-out run at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, as well as works by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artists at Katara Cultural Village. Years of Culture ran an ambitious project between the British Library and Qatar Foundation, digitising over 500,000 pages of archive material on Middle Eastern history. The British Council and Qatar Foundation also established a programme to develop the teaching of Arabic language and culture in British schools.  The five-week British Festival in Qatar included over 30 events for an audience of 10,000 individuals. A reciprocal family festival called Etifhal was held at the Serpentine Gallery in London.  The Qatar - UK 2013 Arts and Disability Festival was also the largest celebration of disability in arts at Katara Cultural Village. A popular exhibition curated by the Museum of Islamic Art took visitors on a journey exploring and illuminating the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj. The impactful Hey'Ya: Arab Women in Sport exhibition at Manchester's National Football Museum featured Brigitte Lacombe's series of large photographs of Arab sportswomen from 20 different countries. The Doha Film Institute also collaborated with the British Film Institute to host the Birds Eye View Film Festival celebrating Arab women filmmakers in London. 

Qatar - Uk 2013

A Year of Cultural Experiences

A man gives a presentation at a lectern in front of a small audience during Qatar-Uk 2013.

Health & Education

Cultural Exchange Programs

Promoting Arabic Language

Schools in Uk
Prince Charles crouches down to the floor to speak with children during the Arts and Disability Festival for Qatar-UK 2013.

Health & Education

Museums & Art Exhibitions

Festivals

Arts and Disability Festival

2013/03/15

Katara Cultural Village
A professional camera set up on a tripod, seen from the side against a blue and pink background.

Film & Photography

Festivals

Film Making, Screening And Festivals

2013/04/01

Doha, Liverpool and London
Visitors admire a mural across a gallery wall in London during Create & Inspire, part of the Qatar-Uk 2013 Year of Culture.

Museums & Art Exhibitions

Art Exhibitions

Create and Inspire Competition Winners Exhibition

2013/05/01

Edge of Arabia Gallery, London
Smiling woman seen from the side, wearing a turquoise hooded sport sweatshirt with Qatar on the back in white text.

Sports Events

Museums & Art Exhibitions

Art Exhibitions

Hey'Ya - Arab Women in Sport

2013/07/26

QM Gallery, Katara
A Middle Eastern artist paints detailed Arabic calligraphy onto a black background with white and gold ink.

Museums & Art Exhibitions

Art Exhibitions

Hajj - The Journey Through Art

2013/10/09

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
Sculpture made from a cast of a human skull covered in diamonds by artist Damien Hirst.

Museums & Art Exhibitions

Art Exhibitions

Damien Hirst - Relics

QM Gallery Al Riwaq
View over a woman's shoulder as she sketches a historic Doha street on an artists' sketchpad during Qatar-Uk 2013.

Fashion & Design

The Old Doha Prize

2013/11/17

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

Theatre & Music

Festivals

British Festival

2014/03/09

Doha
The exhibition space of Qatar-Uk 2013 Fashion Exchange, promoting contemporary fashion designers in both Qatar and the UK.

Fashion & Design

Cultural Exchange Programs

Qatar - UK 2013 Fashion Exchange

London and Doha

2014

Qatar - Brazil

2012

Qatar - Japan