Qatar Museums has confirmed Germany as the official partner for the 2017 Year of Culture. Initiated by Qatar Museums and the German Federal Foreign Office and organised in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and the German Embassy in Doha.

Throughout the year 2017, an exciting programme of events will be presented by institutions in both Qatar and Germany, with the aim to strengthen existing ties between both countries through mutual exchange of arts, culture, and sport, and to promote dialogue, mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between Qatar and Germany.

Mohammed Al Othman, Public and International Relations Director at Qatar Museums, said:

Culture is one of the most effective tools for bringing people closer together, encouraging dialogue, and deepening understanding between people. We are proud to be partnering with Germany for the 2017 Year of Culture, which builds on our success to date in connecting people through a wide range of cultural activities.’

He added:

We are thrilled to have made tremendous progress over the past year with the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, and this success will pave the way for next year’s programme of events in 2017, which is set to be just as exciting. It will celebrate the similarities, as well as differences between both countries. We look forward to celebrating our growing relationship with Germany in the coming year.’

Dr Andreas Görgen, Director General for Culture and Communication at the German Federal Foreign Office, said:

We believe it is important for countries to interact not only on the policy and trade level, but also to create, support and protect – open spaces for culture, where civil society can participate in dialogue. Alongside our partners in Germany, such as the Goethe-Institut, we are working to connect societies through cultural and educational actions. In this spirit, we are looking forward to being Qatar’s partner in the 2017 Year of Culture initiative. Our cultural relations and education policy contributes to connecting both our societies stronger across borders, especially through cultural coproduction.’

‘The 2017 Qatar Germany Year of Culture offers us a unique opportunity to engage with the Qatari society in active exchange through culture and education and to present Germany in its cultural, economic and societal entirety.’

Johannes Ebert, Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut, said:

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. With the ‘2017 Qatar Germany Year of Culture’ we want to broaden the knowledge about the societies of Germany and Qatar and share our ideas about opportunities and challenges for our global future. Culture and the arts provide a fruitful platform to better get to know each other, to connect people and exchange similar and different views in the framework of an international cultural dialogue.’

The Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is part of the landmark ‘Years of Culture’ initiative developed by Qatar Museums and which is designed to deepen understanding between nations and their people through mutual exchanges of arts, culture, heritage and sport. The bilateral Years of Culture initiative was launched in 2012 under the guidance of Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The year-long programme involves exhibitions, competitions and events – all designed to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between Qatar and the selected partner countries. Qatar Germany 2017 follows the huge success of previous years of culture including Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Turkey 2015, Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-UK 2013, and Qatar-Japan 2012.

The Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is organized by Qatar Museums in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and the German Embassy Doha. The broad and varied programme involves a number of high profile organisations in Qatar including the Qatar National Library, Doha Film Institute, Katara, and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

Together with Volkswagen AG and Deutsche Bank AG, Qatar Museums will realise two exhibitions in the autumn of 2017 that will be shown at Al Riwaq Gallery next to the Museum of Islamic Art and at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence. Volkswagen AG is presenting an exhibition on German design from 1950 to the present and future. Porsche automobile icons, as well as classic furniture and object designs tell the success story of German design art and provide an outlook for the future, in cooperation with the Vitra Design Museum. Deutsche Bank will show masterpieces from its collection that provide an informative overview of the development of German art – and thus also of the history of the country – from the 1960s up to the present day. The first-rate selection of classics ranges from Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke to current artists including Neo Rauch, Katharina Grosse and Annette Kelm.

Furthermore literary and art workshops, film screenings and discussions, concerts and performances, sport competitions and trade shows will be organised by the various German and Qatari partner institutions in Doha throughout 2017.

Qatar Airways is the official airline of the Years of Culture initiative.

For further information, visit qm.org.qa/en/years-culture or goethe.de/qatargermany2017.

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