(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Museums (QM), under the guidance of chairperson HE Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has announced a new partnership with Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd (Oxy Qatar).
The partnership makes Oxy Qatar the principal sponsor of QM's 'Fire Station Artist in Residence', a new programme designed to support artists in Qatar from a range of disciplines and provide a hub for creative exchange.
Qatar Museums CEO Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud said: "It is with great pleasure that we announce our partnership with Oxy Qatar today."
Since 2012, QM has been renovating the old Civil Defence building (commonly known as the old Fire Station) in preparation for hosting the 'Artist in Residence' programme. To honour the heritage and traditions of the past while embracing the future, QM has sought to preserve the original façade of the building and recycle many of its features, allowing the original integrity of the building to remain intact.
Preparations for the programme will continue apace ahead of commencing in September. Between now and then, the emerging artists will be chosen through a carefully managed selection and decision-making process involving an independent jury. Initially spanning a period of nine months, the programme will host 20 artists from a range of disciplines such as art, photography, design and architecture.
The building will be home to 24 studios and a gallery space for exhibitions and community interaction. Twenty studios will be open to artists selected to join the residency, while four will be reserved for visiting artists. In this way, the residency programme will involve mentoring and tutoring from respected local artists and provide residents with the opportunity to benefit from the experience of some of the big international names that QM continually attracts to Qatar. These have previously included Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Takashi Murakami and Damian Hirst. Residents will also have access to world-class curators, art historians and professors.
Hala al-Khalifa, director of the Fire Station, said: "I am delighted to announce our partnership with Oxy Qatar to the public, as this guarantees the continued success of our ground-breaking 'Fire Station Artist in Residence Programme'."
The Fire Station premises will also feature public attractions such as a park, library, an arts and crafts shop, a cinema, a plaza and a restaurant.
Oxy Qatar has supported QM's activities and initiatives earlier, too, having sponsored events such as both Mal Lawal exhibitions and Hey 'Ya: Arab Women in Sports. The company is also helping connect the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art at Qatar Foundation through its continued sponsorship of the MIA-Mathaf shuttle bus service.
Stephen Kelly, president and general manager of Oxy Qatar, said: "Oxy Qatar is delighted to continue its long-established partnership with Qatar Museums. We are proud to support the establishment of this unique multi-faceted project."
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