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Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture Opening Ceremony

2022/04/21

The Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture was officially inaugurated on Thursday 3rd March with an exceptional opening ceremony in the courtyard of the Fire Station.

The Fire Station courtyard at night, lit in soft orange and pink lights for guests of the Years of Culture opening ceremony.

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The event saw leaders from Qatar and dignitaries representing countries from across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia come together for a special evening of music, film and cuisine under the stars.

Welcoming guests to the event, Her Excellency, Lolwah Rashid Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister of Qatar delivered a beautiful speech about Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture. Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, Director of Cultural Diplomacy, Qatar Museums also spoke about the initiative and cultural programme that will take place throughout 2022.

Impressive audiovisual art installations accompanied proceedings, as guests were entertained by musical performances curated by renowned Qatari composer, singer and songwriter Dana Al Fardan. Guests were also invited to view a programme of short films from Qatar and the MENASA region, developed with the support of the Doha Film Institute.

The evening’s cuisine was inspired by flavours from across the MENASA region, beginning with an appetiser by award-winning Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi. The celebration extended into the following day, with an event open to members of the public marking the start of a year set to broaden horizons through cultural exchange and educational experiences.