Doha, November 08 (QNA) - HE Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani opened the inaugural Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) exhibition at Fire Station, presenting works by 22 artists from Qatar and 14 countries worldwide in a major presentation of new and evolving contemporary artistic practices. Curated by Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of Fire Station, the exhibition is the culmination of an intensive nine-month programme of research, experimentation, critical dialogue and mentorship.

The exhibition also marks an important new chapter for Fire Station as the first to open under the newly named Fire Station – Centre for Contemporary Art Practices, signalling the institution's development and evolving role in supporting emerging artists and nurturing Qatar's contemporary art scene.

As Fire Station – Centre for Contemporary Art Practices, the institution will place greater emphasis on artistic research, critical dialogue and creative production, while expanding opportunities for artists to develop their practices and engage with peers, mentors and audiences in Qatar and internationally.

Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of Fire Station – Centre for Contemporary Art Practices and curator of the exhibition, said, “I am proud to celebrate the achievements of the inaugural edition of our Artists Intensive Study Programme, which has provided artists with an opportunity to strengthen their practices, exchange perspectives across cultures and explore new approaches to artistic expression. This exhibition reflects the programme's core mission of bringing together emerging artists from diverse backgrounds with internationally recognised artists and practitioners, fostering an environment of critical dialogue, intellectual exchange and new perspectives on contemporary art.”

On view until 6 February 2027, the inaugural AISP exhibition spans five galleries and the Plaza at Fire Station. Working across diverse media and interdisciplinary practices, participating artists explore cultural, social, historical and material conditions through approaches that move between personal and collective narratives.

At the heart of the programme is the studio, both as a physical space for artistic production and as an environment for experimentation, where ideas take shape, directions shift and new layers unfold through the creative process. The works presented trace a range of artistic investigations, reflecting how artistic practices evolve through exchange and discovery. The showcased works explore subjects ranging from migration, memory and belonging, to public space, cultural heritage and the relationship between people and their environments. These investigations take shape through sculpture, moving image, sound, immersive installations, painting and mixed-media practices.

This exhibition is the culmination of the first edition of AISP, a nine-month intensive study programme designed to support emerging artists through an intensive period of artistic and intellectual development. AISP was launched by Fire Station as a successor to its Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme, introducing a new model centred on intensive study and sustained engagement, encouraging participants to critically examine and expand their practices while developing new bodies of work.

Throughout the programme, an international community of mentors contributed to the artists' development, introducing new perspectives and encouraging them to broaden their artistic approaches, experiment with new methods and refine their practice.

The Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) – First Edition exhibition is open to the public at Fire Station from 8 November 2026 to 6 February 2027.

The exhibition forms part of the wider Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026/2027 season of exhibitions, public art presentations and initiatives designed to spark global cultural exchange and dialogue. (QNA)