Commissioning of new public art in the city to depict Qatar’s unity and resilience

In its continued efforts to take art beyond museum walls and nurture Qatar’s public art landscape, Qatar Museums (QM) has announced the Open Call for the second edition of its 6/5 initiative, which will see artists from across the country mark the blockade through a commissioned sculpture to be installed at a designated location in Doha.

65 Open Call posterThe 6/5 Open Call invites artists to conceptualise and propose a permanent public artwork that explores the ‘blockade’ to commemorate 5 June 2017, when air, land and sea blockade was imposed on Qatar.

Speaking on the public art initiative, QM Acting Director of Public Art Department Abdulrahman Al Ishaq said that the 6/5 initiative not only marks an important date in Qatar’s recent history, but also provides a creative platform for young and talented artists in Qatar to contribute to the country’s thriving cultural landscape.

Public art is key in sparking dialogue, and we invite all aspiring and established artists to apply to be part of this unique opportunity to unleash their creativity and engage the community through sculptures that represent Qatar’s history, unity and resilience.

The QM 6/5 initiative is open to Qatari artists and Qatar-based artists of any nationality with valid Qatar residency permit. Artists can be at any stage of their career but must possess strong skills to execute the proposed project by 5 May 2021.

Artists should consider the relevance of the piece to the community and the message they would like to convey through their artwork. They should also take into consideration weight, dimensions, materials and budget. Successful applicants will receive a commission contract to execute their proposed public artwork.

For more information about the 6/5 Open Call and to download an application form, visit qm.org.qa. Artists must send a completed application form and proposal to [email protected] before 17 September 2020.

Cover image: Sudalove, a mural created by Qatar-based artist Assil Diab to mark the first 100 days of the Qatar blockade.