Al-Khater also tapped into YoC’s future vision as Qatar establishes “itself as a hub of ideas, people, perspectives and possibilities”.
Qatar’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, Lolwah Al-Khater, has highlighted the Gulf state’s power of cultural diplomacy through its annual Years of Culture (YoC) initiative in an opinion piece published on Arab News on Wednesday.
Titled “Qatar’s Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform”, Al-Khater’s article emphasised the initiative’s power and position in being a platform for cultural exchange, especially through its latest edition which merges two countries—Argentina and Chile.
“It is not about exporting Qatari culture or importing others. It is about rewriting how culture can move—collaboratively, respectfully and without hierarchy,” the Qatari minister wrote.
The YoC first launched in 2012 to boost cultural exchanges between the Gulf state and the rest of the world ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first to ever take place in an Arab and a Muslim country.
The initiative, chaired by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, holds a diverse programme that ranges from street art installations, collaborations between exhibitions and culinary exchanges among others.
The previous YoCs’ included Japan; the United Kingdom; Brazil; Türkiye; China; Germany; Russia; India; France; the United States; Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA); Indonesia; and Morocco.
Al-Khater explained that the initiative transformed from serving as a platform aimed at welcoming the world to Qatar to “a dynamic framework for international collaboration” that transcends borders.
“Qatar’s broader vision for global engagement remains central. As it shapes its post-World Cup identity, Qatar has embraced cultural diplomacy as a vital expression of its international role— rooted in dialogue and intellectual exchange,” Al-Khater said.
Some of the most notable examples Al-Khater outlined in her article included the “On the Move” exhibition, a part of the Qatar-MENASA 2022 Year of Culture, which later toured in China.
Another example is the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist, Sara Ouhaddou, at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris for the Qatar-France 2020 YoC, before participating at Qatar-Morocco 2024 YoC, which saw other major collaborations.
Other examples include last year’s fashion exhibition at the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), which spotlighted Moroccan designer, Mohammed Benchellal, whose pieces were produced using materials found in Doha’s car shops.
The 2024 memorandum of understanding between Qatar and France that built on the success of the two countries’ previous YoC also highlighted the long-term partnerships the initiative can create.
“The initiative embodies a global outlook that bridges cultures, fosters long-term relationships and generates dialogue across disciplines,” Al-Khater noted.
More recently, the “LATINOAMERICANO” exhibition co-curated by the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA), and Qatar Museums, embodies the cultural bond that countries can foster.
“For participants, particularly creatives from the Global South, Years of Culture offers a rare platform for visibility, resources and mutual learning,” Al-Khater said.
Constant cultural engagements that go beyond the YoC’s exhibit the initiative’s pivotal role in redefining cultural exchange and dialogue while forging “lasting connections”.
“Qatar’s approach is distinctive in how it intertwines formal diplomacy with grassroots engagement. Cultural diplomacy in Qatar extends beyond formal institutions,” Al-Khater wrote.
Al-Khater also tapped into YoC’s future vision as Qatar establishes “itself as a hub of ideas, people, perspectives and possibilities”.
“In the years ahead, Years of Culture may shift from a model of annual partnerships to one of ongoing, intersecting global dialogues — born in Doha but resonating far beyond,” Al-Khater said.
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