Doha, November 09 (QNA) - HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani opened Sunday the second edition of the Fereej Arts and Design Festival in Darb Al Saai from Nov. 9 to 14. 

The opening ceremony was atteded by HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, along with HE Minister of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, HE Minister of Culture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Mustafa Al Rawashdeh, HE Minister of Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic Mohammed Yassin Saleh, HE President of the General Tax Authority (GTA) Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, a number of senior officials in the Ministry of Culture, a number of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors accredited to the State, and a group of intellectuals, artists and media professionals.

Affirming the success of the first edition, the 2nd Fereej Arts and Design Festival presents renewed artistic content that is more diverse and comprehensive.

This year's festival is witnessing a remarkable expansion in the number of art galleries, exhibitions and workshops, with the participation of more than 120 artists from 21 countries, including: Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Japan, Azerbaijan, India, Australia, Spain, Russia and the Philippines.

Marking the occasion, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the festival aims to promote Qatari art and support Qatari artists, in addition to attracting leading local and international artists and art institutions, within the framework of the ministry's efforts to advance the artistic movement and develop the cultural scene in Qatar.

His Excellency indicated that this edition of the festival is witnessing broad participation from more than 20 countries, reflecting its international character and cultural and artistic diversity. He noted that this participation enriches the local experience and provides Qatari artists with greater opportunities to interact with different art schools and to be open to global creative experiences.

His Excellency pointed out that the festival program includes a range of specialized art workshops that cater to various interests, including "masterclass" workshops that extend for a week or more, in addition to daily workshops and workshops dedicated to children and young artists, with the aim of developing young national talents and refining their artistic skills from the early stages.

HE Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali noted that the festival, through its exhibitions, celebrates a number of pioneers of Qatari art who have contributed to enriching the visual arts movement in the country, including the artist Youssef Ahmed, the artist Salman Al Malik, the artist Mohammed Al Jaidah, and other creative individuals who have contributed to consolidating the Qatari visual identity and developing the local art scene.

His Excellency also noted that the festival presents the "Beyond Frame" exhibition in its digital version, which is held in partnership with the Sana Qatar initiative and Sana Art, in an innovative artistic experience that combines traditional art and modern technologies, thus opening new horizons for showcasing Qatari arts in advanced digital ways.

In a related context, His Excellency addressed the Arabic calligraphy award recently launched by the Ministry of Culture, noting that it comes within the ministry's direction to support authentic arts that reflect the Qatari cultural identity. He said that the Ministry of Culture decided to start with an award for Arabic calligraphy because of the aesthetic and spiritual value that this art represents in the Arab and Islamic culture. The ministry is also working on developing other awards for the visual arts, which are concerned with encouraging artistic creativity that embodies the features of the Qatari identity.

His Excellency indicated that the festival includes the House of Arabic Calligraphy, which is a new artistic experience that brings together Qatari and Arab calligraphers and displays examples of various calligraphic schools, noting that the second edition of the Arabic calligraphy competition will be launched during 2025, with the results to be announced at the end of next year.

The festival features more than 12 art exhibitions and 14 workshops, including seven international workshops covering diverse fields such as Japanese Bingata art, Kuwaiti glass melting art, Australian natural color making, Spanish gilding, Indian fabric printing, and Russian floral dish crafting, along with live art demonstrations from Kuwait that blend artistic heritage with modern creativity.

Speaking to QNA on the margin of the inauguration of the Fereej Arts and Design Festival, HE Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno said that Qatar's cultural scene reflects an advanced vision of culture, being a space for human interaction rather than an exclusive elite activity.

Dr. Hanno added that the festival is a refined example of holding a conversation about aesthetics among nations, proving that art can indeed serve as a universal language that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries.

This edition stands out thanks to the great diversity of visual arts on display, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, applied arts and designs, His Excellency said, adding that the event gave special attention to handicrafts, a fundamental pillar of human heritage.

His Excellency said that many of these crafts are endangered, which is why the Fereej Arts and Design Festival must be given credit for bringing them back into the spotlight in a contemporary manner that preserves their authenticity while also opening new horizons for them.

HE the Egyptian Minister of Culture affirmed that this high level of artistic diversity reflects a holistic vision of culture, one that blends modern art and contemporary techniques on one hand, with traditional crafts and heritage arts on the other, making the festival a shared space for both artists and audiences.

Dr. Hanno spoke about prospects for cultural bilateral cooperation, noting that 2027 will be designated as the Qatar-Egypt Year of Culture, paving the way for joint artistic and literary events, including art exhibitions, cultural weeks, and music, theater, and performance programs that will introduce Doha's audiences to Egypt's rich cultural identity while allowing Egyptian audiences to discover Qatar's dynamic cultural scene.

HE the Egyptian Minister of Culture further noted that this cultural collaboration will also extend to Greece as part of the Years of Culture programme, contributing to strengthening cultural dialogue across the Mediterranean and highlighting shared values in art, history, and human heritage.

Meanwhile, HE Syrian Minister of Culture, Mohammed Yassin Al Saleh told QNA that this international cultural movement launched by Qatar's Ministry of Culture is an inspiring example for developing the arts.

His Excellency said that this beautiful international event has become a cause for admiration, with each edition raising the bar in terms of creativity and cultural presence, adding that culture was made more accessible to the public, allowing people to engage with cultural ideas, explore creative experiences, and participate in intellectual and aesthetic dialogue.

The participation of Syrian artists in this major international festival serves as a gesture of solidarity with their bretheren in Qatar, HE the Syrian Minister stated, describing both nations' ties as being a deeply rooted bond built on freedom and pride.

The Syrian Ministry of Culture is taking part in this event via several Syrian ceramic, sculpture, and photography artists, he said, noting that some Syrian photographers received awards at the Doha Photography Festival, which concluded today.

Regarding joint cultural projects, Al Saleh said that cooperation between the Syrian and Qatari Ministries of Culture has never ceased, rather they continue to run through small, medium, and large-scale projects covering various cultural areas, the outcomes of which will be seen soon.

HE the Syrian Minister of Culture said that joint projects include publishing, artistic production, cultural weeks, book fairs, and diverse art events, affirming that they will create bridges between both countries' creative communities. (QNA)