Interview: Ahmad Al Namla
To what extent can the 2022 FIFA World Cup serve as a catalyst for the development of the Qatari arts and culture scene?
AHMAD AL NAMLA: The 2022 FIFA World Cup presents a strong opportunity to show the entire world the vast offering of Qatari arts and culture. It will also provide visitors the chance to have a better and deeper understanding of Qatar’s long-standing traditions and way of life. Our efforts are focused on ensuring this is the case during the event, and also grasping all opportunities that may stem from having so many visitors in our country at one time.
Our goal is to offer visitors a different way to appreciate art and culture; we want to showcase the history of Qatar from an archaeological perspective, teach about pearl diving, and help visitors understand the current political and socio-economic trajectory.
Similarly, the World Cup will strengthen the relationship between sports and tourism, supporting our leadership’s vision to become a centre of excellence and reference for sports. We are therefore aligning our strategies with local tourism stakeholders by opening the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum, for example, with an exhibition held during the World Cup about the history of football.
Last but not least, arts and culture have important value as a means to facilitate understanding and communication among different people, which creates new possibilities for trade. In this vein, one of Qatar Museums’ goals is to show the country’s artistic strength to enhance economic prosperity.
How are local efforts to grow the artistic and cultural environment working to draw more foreign investors to the country?
AL NAMLA: There is an important link between promoting the artistic and cultural development of any nation, and the impact it has on economic development. In the case of Qatar, in November 2021 we opened M7 as Doha’s newest epicentre for innovation and entrepreneurship in fashion, design and technology. This supports the development of local creative industries, and hosts a think tank for idea generation and discussion among experts. The centre not only provides a place for local talent to develop skills, but also acts as a magnet for international investors to come and experience Qatar’s creative sector. Similarly, Qatar Museums is collaborating with Qatar Development Bank to support local entrepreneurs in the arts and culture space, whether it is in architecture, media, marketing, design or fashion.
Consequently, UNESCO named Doha a City of Design in November 2021, placing it among 246 other global cities in their Creative Cities Network. This is an important achievement that sheds light on the collaborative efforts to establish Doha as a leader in the arts and cultural scene.
Where do you see opportunities to harness technology to expand the international influence of Qatari arts and culture?
AL NAMLA: There is no limit to what arts and culture can do with digital tools and technology. We are developing specific programmes aimed at boosting our capabilities in this space. For example, in June 2021 we partnered with Microsoft to enhance Qatar Museums’ digital transformation plans and deliver smart exhibits. We want to present our culture, traditions and artistic value to all visitors coming to Qatar, as well as provide an opportunity for people to access our exhibitions and cultural and artistic content through online tools.
The opportunities are endless, and we will continue to have an open-minded approach to what can be achieved through technology. In the end, our aim is to facilitate the spread of knowledge, art and culture locally and internationally, reaching audiences that would otherwise be impossible without digital tools.
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