Qatar has taken significant steps to enhance cultural exchange and international cooperation by announcing its cultural partners until 2030. The country has introduced five European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain, as its future partners, and these collaborations will follow the previously announced cooperation with Egypt and Greece in 2027.
Details of Cultural Collaborations
This announcement, released on Friday, emphasizes that Qatar will collaborate with Italy in 2028, and in 2029 and 2030, it will engage in cultural programs with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain, respectively. These collaborations follow previous cultural years' programs with Egypt and Greece in 2027.
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Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chair of the Cultural Years Program, highlighted the role of this initiative in strengthening international relations through cultural collaborations, stating: "As we conclude the fifteenth edition of the Cultural Years, this program continues to expand the bonds of friendship between Qatar and various countries around the world through meaningful cultural exchange and supports our country's creative industries and social and economic development."
Cultural Destinations and Collaboration Goals
This program, launched in 2012, aims to create sustainable relationships between Qatar and other countries through art, heritage, food, music, sports, education, and economic collaboration. This initiative seeks to promote dialogue, strengthen international relations, and encourage mutual understanding through cultural collaborations.
Future programs will be based on the two-partner model introduced in recent years. For example, Qatar will collaborate with Argentina and Chile in 2025 and then with Canada and Mexico in 2026.
In 2027, Qatar's collaborations with Egypt and Greece will explore the cultural connections of these countries with two nations whose historical heritage continues to influence contemporary creative industries. This program will include exchanges in literature, art, design, music, and heritage, and Qatar will participate as a special guest at the Cairo International Book Fair in January 2027.
Collaboration with Italy in 2028 will focus on long-standing cultural ties in archaeology, fashion, design, and heritage preservation, coinciding with the permanent opening of Qatar's national pavilion at the historic Giardini della Biennale in Venice. This pavilion, designed by architect Lina Ghotmeh, will be the first new permanent pavilion in these gardens in 30 years and only the third pavilion in the last 50 years.
In 2029, Qatar will collaborate with the Netherlands and Switzerland, emphasizing these countries' contributions to innovation, diplomacy, design, philanthropy, and sustainability. Portugal and Spain will also join these programs in 2030, continuing the tradition of cultural exchange with the host countries of the FIFA World Cup.
Throughout each cultural year, Qatar collaborates with cultural institutions, embassies, artists, and educators to hold exhibitions, festivals, trade shows, artist residencies, academic exchanges, and public events in Qatar and partner countries. Programs typically begin before the official year of collaboration and continue afterward, contributing to the establishment of long-term institutional relationships, professional networks, and connections between communities.
More information is available on the official website of the Cultural Years programs.
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