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National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage:
Established on the 3rd of October 1998 as an autonomous body with a judicial personality and independent budget, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage sponsors national culture, arts and heritage affairs.
Its objectives include the following:
1- Develop and enrich cultural gains and intellectual products.
2- Provide the suitable atmosphere in which artistic and literary productions can develop and diversify.
3- Protect national heritage, highlight its peculiarity and intensify researches thereon.
4- Encourage, develop and spread fine arts.
5- Preserve national legacy of heritage and archeology.
The Council takes on the following duties in order to fulfill its objectives:
1- Survey prevailing cultural, artistic, literary conditions as well as conditions related to heritage and collect data on efforts of various bodies in their individual fields of interest and specialty.
2- Prepare required studies to upgrade cultural, artistic and literary production and preserve national heritage.
3- Issue directories, dictionaries, indexes and other published works, compile documents and contribute in publishing the worthy genuine and translated works of the intellect.
4- Participate in cultural and artistic exhibitions, conferences and festivals, locally, regionally and internationally.
5- Give opinion on draft agreements, in which the State is a party and which falls within the responsibilities of the Council.
6- Designate quality standards for various fields of intellectual production in the country and decide material support, awards and incentives in relation to such production.
Administrative units forming the Council:
Department of Culture and Arts: The Responsibilities:
1- Sponsor intellectual, literary and artistic movement in the country.
2- Support plastic arts and develop music and theatrical arts.
3- Stimulate cultural movement by holding lectures, symposia and shows.
4- Stage cultural and artistic exhibitions.
The Theatre in Qatar :
Qatar has known the theater since the 1950s through the activities of clubs. In the 1960s the popular theatrical troupe was formed, but the real beginning of the theatrical movement was started early in the 1970s with the establishment in 1972 of Qatar Theater Troupe, the first of its kind in the country. Culture and Arts Department supports every theatrical work presented by private theatrical troupes, secures free of charge all kinds of artistic and technical services and potential and allows commercial marketing of works after airing them first on Qatar TV. Culture and Arts Department hosts Arab theater scholars, who impart their expertise to Qataris through lectures and training courses, sends trainees to attend courses abroad and encourages artists who wish to have academic studies on theater. Qatar National Theater hosts touring theatrical troupes to perform in Qatar. Al Ahli theatrical troupe is considered to be the nucleus of the national theatrical movement and its members, who are elected from other private troupes, are chosen to participate in Arab festivals held abroad. Theatrical troupes in the county mark the International Theater Day, which falls on the 27th of March of each year.
Department of Public Libraries:
Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariyya is one of the oldest national libraries in the Gulf and the Arab world and one of the most outstanding cultural landmarks in Doha. It was established on the 29th of December 1962 by a decision from HE the Minister of Ma'arif (Education) merging the Public Library and the library of the Ministry of Ma'arif into one body, which was put under the direct authority of the Minister of Ma'arif and given an independent budget. The new body, now called the National Library, is now part of the Department of Public Libraries at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.
The responsibilities of the department:
1- Compile, store and preserve the Qatari heritage.
2- Prepare indexes, bibliographies, appendixes and guides.
3- Organize book fairs for local and international books.
4- Provide book-lending service for the public.
5- Exchange data, information, copies of manuscripts and periodicals with data centers.
6- Supervise, monitor and evaluate services of branch libraries.
The library gets publications in various forms such as dictionary, encyclopedia, map, manuscript, disc, and microfiche besides books.
Documentation and Microfilm Section prepares and builds up microfilm inventory in line with latest technological advances. The facility has a restoration laboratory since 1976, and there is a binding unit where books, newspapers and periodicals are treated with modern binding equipment.
To facilitate the work of researchers and give better chances for the youths to use the Internet for nominal fares, an Internet center was opened at the library, which receives visitors two times a day.
Qatar Museums Authority :
Established in 2005 in Doha city, Qatar Museums Authority is a corporate body with a separate state budget. It aims to upgrade the museums and archeology sector as well as archeological excavation projects. This includes managing, supervising and developing them; and compiling, recording and protecting the archeological remains and preparing them for public use and preserving the archeological discoveries and the acquisitions of museums.
The authority is in charge with the following tasks:
1- Drawing out the general policy of museums and archeology organizations and supervising the implementation thereof.
2- Endorsing the development, upgrading, restoration and maintenance of museums and their acquisitions.
3- Outlining the bases for accrediting the museums and their work systems. 4- Establishing the museums.
5- Drawing out and endorsing the scientific systems and bases of archeological excavations; compiling, recording and preserving the archeological remains and the acquisitions of the museums throughout the phases of recording, transporting, storing, displaying or using them.
6-Coordinating between the museums and concerned establishments.
7- Discharging the duties related to archeology affairs.
8- Participating in the related regional and international exhibitions and conferences.
9- Proposing law bills and regulations dealing with the museums and archeology and giving specialized counsel in the matters relating to them.
The authority is in charge of all the museums that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Museums and Archeology at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, besides any museum accredited or established by a decision from the council of trustees.
Cultural Neighborhood Establishment : Cultural Neighborhood Establishment is a commercially oriented legal entity with an independent budget and is based in Doha.The establishment aims through the usage of its premises to contribute in stimulating the cultural movement; encourage and highlight the creative potential; create a suitable and nurturing environment for cultural, creative, intellectual and artistic activities; act as a forum for the creative and intellectuals; contribute in spreading cultural awareness through the organization of festivals, fairs, exhibitions and symposia alongside with other activities of cultural nature; conduct researches and studies relating to the objectives and activities of the establishment and issue the publications and periodicals that further these objectives and activities in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.
Plastic Arts in Qatar :
Plastic arts movement in the State of Qatar has been influenced by the country's socioeconomic environment as well as a number of factors and developments in the local arena. Trials of the plastic arts in the 1970s brought about new variations due to more openness towards cultural resources and easy communication with arts enthusiasts. With more requirement for support, the Ministry of Information was established to take up the role of sponsoring arts sector in the 1970s, just as attention started to grow towards arts and towards more participation in cultural events staged in the Arab world, Europe or Asia. In 1980, Qatar Plastic Arts Society was accredited as representative of Qatar's private arts sector with a responsibility to support the role played by the Ministry of Information in extending artistic and cultural services.
Visual Arts Center : The Center provides its services in all cultural, visual artistic and human production fields, including: Basics of coloring and painting, all kinds of printing, graphics, photography, pottery, sculpture, Arabic calligraphy, Islamic professional ornamentation, designing and shaping of various materials, textile printing, batik, designing by computer and video filming and production. The Center's activity includes organizing international symposia and exhibitions in the field of visual arts, preparing studies and researches and establishing strong ties and coordination with international establishments, museums, institutions and artists.
Established on the 3rd of October 1998 as an autonomous body with a judicial personality and independent budget, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage sponsors national culture, arts and heritage affairs.
Its objectives include the following:
1- Develop and enrich cultural gains and intellectual products.
2- Provide the suitable atmosphere in which artistic and literary productions can develop and diversify.
3- Protect national heritage, highlight its peculiarity and intensify researches thereon.
4- Encourage, develop and spread fine arts.
5- Preserve national legacy of heritage and archeology.
The Council takes on the following duties in order to fulfill its objectives:
1- Survey prevailing cultural, artistic, literary conditions as well as conditions related to heritage and collect data on efforts of various bodies in their individual fields of interest and specialty.
2- Prepare required studies to upgrade cultural, artistic and literary production and preserve national heritage.
3- Issue directories, dictionaries, indexes and other published works, compile documents and contribute in publishing the worthy genuine and translated works of the intellect.
4- Participate in cultural and artistic exhibitions, conferences and festivals, locally, regionally and internationally.
5- Give opinion on draft agreements, in which the State is a party and which falls within the responsibilities of the Council.
6- Designate quality standards for various fields of intellectual production in the country and decide material support, awards and incentives in relation to such production.
Administrative units forming the Council:
Department of Culture and Arts: The Responsibilities:
1- Sponsor intellectual, literary and artistic movement in the country.
2- Support plastic arts and develop music and theatrical arts.
3- Stimulate cultural movement by holding lectures, symposia and shows.
4- Stage cultural and artistic exhibitions.
The Theatre in Qatar :
Qatar has known the theater since the 1950s through the activities of clubs. In the 1960s the popular theatrical troupe was formed, but the real beginning of the theatrical movement was started early in the 1970s with the establishment in 1972 of Qatar Theater Troupe, the first of its kind in the country. Culture and Arts Department supports every theatrical work presented by private theatrical troupes, secures free of charge all kinds of artistic and technical services and potential and allows commercial marketing of works after airing them first on Qatar TV. Culture and Arts Department hosts Arab theater scholars, who impart their expertise to Qataris through lectures and training courses, sends trainees to attend courses abroad and encourages artists who wish to have academic studies on theater. Qatar National Theater hosts touring theatrical troupes to perform in Qatar. Al Ahli theatrical troupe is considered to be the nucleus of the national theatrical movement and its members, who are elected from other private troupes, are chosen to participate in Arab festivals held abroad. Theatrical troupes in the county mark the International Theater Day, which falls on the 27th of March of each year.
Department of Public Libraries:
Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariyya is one of the oldest national libraries in the Gulf and the Arab world and one of the most outstanding cultural landmarks in Doha. It was established on the 29th of December 1962 by a decision from HE the Minister of Ma'arif (Education) merging the Public Library and the library of the Ministry of Ma'arif into one body, which was put under the direct authority of the Minister of Ma'arif and given an independent budget. The new body, now called the National Library, is now part of the Department of Public Libraries at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.
The responsibilities of the department:
1- Compile, store and preserve the Qatari heritage.
2- Prepare indexes, bibliographies, appendixes and guides.
3- Organize book fairs for local and international books.
4- Provide book-lending service for the public.
5- Exchange data, information, copies of manuscripts and periodicals with data centers.
6- Supervise, monitor and evaluate services of branch libraries.
The library gets publications in various forms such as dictionary, encyclopedia, map, manuscript, disc, and microfiche besides books.
Documentation and Microfilm Section prepares and builds up microfilm inventory in line with latest technological advances. The facility has a restoration laboratory since 1976, and there is a binding unit where books, newspapers and periodicals are treated with modern binding equipment.
To facilitate the work of researchers and give better chances for the youths to use the Internet for nominal fares, an Internet center was opened at the library, which receives visitors two times a day.
Qatar Museums Authority :
Established in 2005 in Doha city, Qatar Museums Authority is a corporate body with a separate state budget. It aims to upgrade the museums and archeology sector as well as archeological excavation projects. This includes managing, supervising and developing them; and compiling, recording and protecting the archeological remains and preparing them for public use and preserving the archeological discoveries and the acquisitions of museums.
The authority is in charge with the following tasks:
1- Drawing out the general policy of museums and archeology organizations and supervising the implementation thereof.
2- Endorsing the development, upgrading, restoration and maintenance of museums and their acquisitions.
3- Outlining the bases for accrediting the museums and their work systems. 4- Establishing the museums.
5- Drawing out and endorsing the scientific systems and bases of archeological excavations; compiling, recording and preserving the archeological remains and the acquisitions of the museums throughout the phases of recording, transporting, storing, displaying or using them.
6-Coordinating between the museums and concerned establishments.
7- Discharging the duties related to archeology affairs.
8- Participating in the related regional and international exhibitions and conferences.
9- Proposing law bills and regulations dealing with the museums and archeology and giving specialized counsel in the matters relating to them.
The authority is in charge of all the museums that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Museums and Archeology at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, besides any museum accredited or established by a decision from the council of trustees.
Cultural Neighborhood Establishment : Cultural Neighborhood Establishment is a commercially oriented legal entity with an independent budget and is based in Doha.The establishment aims through the usage of its premises to contribute in stimulating the cultural movement; encourage and highlight the creative potential; create a suitable and nurturing environment for cultural, creative, intellectual and artistic activities; act as a forum for the creative and intellectuals; contribute in spreading cultural awareness through the organization of festivals, fairs, exhibitions and symposia alongside with other activities of cultural nature; conduct researches and studies relating to the objectives and activities of the establishment and issue the publications and periodicals that further these objectives and activities in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.
Plastic Arts in Qatar :
Plastic arts movement in the State of Qatar has been influenced by the country's socioeconomic environment as well as a number of factors and developments in the local arena. Trials of the plastic arts in the 1970s brought about new variations due to more openness towards cultural resources and easy communication with arts enthusiasts. With more requirement for support, the Ministry of Information was established to take up the role of sponsoring arts sector in the 1970s, just as attention started to grow towards arts and towards more participation in cultural events staged in the Arab world, Europe or Asia. In 1980, Qatar Plastic Arts Society was accredited as representative of Qatar's private arts sector with a responsibility to support the role played by the Ministry of Information in extending artistic and cultural services.
Visual Arts Center : The Center provides its services in all cultural, visual artistic and human production fields, including: Basics of coloring and painting, all kinds of printing, graphics, photography, pottery, sculpture, Arabic calligraphy, Islamic professional ornamentation, designing and shaping of various materials, textile printing, batik, designing by computer and video filming and production. The Center's activity includes organizing international symposia and exhibitions in the field of visual arts, preparing studies and researches and establishing strong ties and coordination with international establishments, museums, institutions and artists.
