Sri Krishna
Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture has announced a huge program of festivals, exhibitions, bilateral exchanges, and events for both the nations. It is a partnership between Qatar Museums (QM), the United States Embassy in Doha and the Embassy of Qatar in the United States. It was established by Qatar Museums under the patronage of its Chairperson Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in year 2012. The initiative of the Years of Culture is to strengthen the relationship between Qatar and a new partner nation every year.
This program will include virtual and in-person events such as works of Qatari and American artists; music, film and fashion events; business events; sports events; entrepreneurship; innovation; and education programs. You can find all the details about upcoming events on the official Years of Culture website.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa said:
“On behalf of Qatar, I take great pleasure in announcing these programs, which show so vividly how the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture will further align our two nations and strengthen the warm friendship they enjoy. Our vision nine years ago in establishing the Year of Culture program was to foster mutual understanding across borders on a humane, popular level by appreciating one another’s creative endeavours in celebrating Qatar’s win to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Now just under two years from Qatar hosting its biggest sporting event, our impressive roster of programs demonstrates the breadth and depth of the experiences to be shared throughout 2021 by the people of the United States and Qatar.”
Aisha Al Attiya, Head of Years of Culture, said:
“We announce the program for the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture with gratitude to the partners in both countries who have developed this extraordinary series of exhibitions, events, and experiences. Through their efforts, they have already demonstrated how this program can bring people together and foster meaningful cultural exchange. We look forward to inaugurating these events and activities, which will show the best of Qatar in the United States and the best of the United States in Qatar.”
His Excellency Sheikh Meshal Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States of America, said:
“Qatar and the United States have been friends and allies for almost 50 years, and it’s exciting to be able to showcase a different and more accessible side of the partnership through the 2021 Qatar-USA Year of Culture. I’m honoured to be a part of the effort to share Qatari culture with audiences across the United States, and to do the same with American culture in Qatar. These endeavours are what deepen the ties between our people, and it is an honour to help facilitate that.”
Ambassador Greta C. Holtz, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, said:
“The Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture builds on the friendly diplomatic relations our two nations have shared since 1972. The Year of Culture provides an extraordinary framework within which we can come together to celebrate our longstanding relationship and forge new connections through people-to-people exchanges.”
Upcoming Programs in Qatar
The following programs will be held in Qatar throughout the year:
- Jeff Koons
- Cinema Under the Stars (November 2021)
Programs in the United States
The following programs will take place in the United States throughout the year:
- Calli-graffiti (Throughout 2021)
- Dessert Recipe Trade-off (Spring 2021)
- Pearls of Wonder (Fall 2021)
- Desert Drive-In Cultural Exchange (Fall 2021)
- Desert Racing (Fall/Winter 2021)
- Made in Qatar (November 2021)
Sponsors
Qatar Airways and ExxonMobil are platinum sponsors of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture.
Dominic Genetti, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar, said:
“ExxonMobil Qatar is pleased to be the platinum sponsor of Qatar-US Year of Culture 2021. As a U.S. company that traces its relationship with Qatar for more than three decades, this is a significant initiative to us because it will showcase both our countries as centers of creative and cultural opportunity. We’re also pleased that our cooperation with Qatar Museums will include a temporary dugong exhibition as part of the Qatar-USA Year of Culture 2021 program that will be on display at the National Museum of Qatar in March. The exhibition will help educate the general public about Qatar’s iconic dugongs, and what can be done to ensure they are protected.”
His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said:
“Qatar Airways is delighted to be the Official Airline Partner of the Qatar-USA Year of Culture 2021. This year-long collaboration of programmes will empower both societies and inspire mutual paths of understanding for each other. As a global airline that brings people together, we look forward to further building the bridge between Qatar and the United States to celebrate and honour both cultures.”
About Years of Culture
‘Years of Culture’ is an annual international cultural exchange program which was developed by the Qatar Museums (QM) under the leadership of its chairperson Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. It has designed to highlight and deepen the ties between nations. It is one of the best tools to strengthen relationship and understanding between two countries. Previous Years of Culture have included: Qatar-Japan 2012, Qatar-UK 2013, Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-Turkey 2015, Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Germany 2017, Qatar-Russia 2018, Qatar-India 2019, and Qatar-France 2020.
The Qatar-USA2021 Year of Culture was signed on 14 September 2020 as a cooperative agreement during the 2020 Qatar-United States Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C between Qatari Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and His Excellency, the former Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo.
2021’s program was inaugurated on 16 January at the Katara Opera House.
