(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula
The Qatar British Festival 2017 has officially opened in celebration of culture, with special events marking the deeper partnerships between both countries.
Unlike in previous editions, this year the British Festival features events in collaboration with Qatari entities, said British Ambassador Ajay Sharma, yesterday, during the opening of the festival at Cultural Village Foundation- Katara, which is cultural partner for the celebration.
The Festival runs until December 8 and variety of events have been lined up including public art and architecture, films and musical performances.
'I am delighted to launch the 2017 Qatar British Festival which promises to be the best yet. The Festival provides a fantastic platform for Qatar and the UK to forge deeper partnerships in culture, education, design, and architecture. I really hope that all residents of Qatar can get involved over the next fortnight in the superb activities on offer, said Sharma.
Referring to the importance of connecting people through art he said, 'One relationship that got to celebrate by heart is the cultural contact, because that's about people to people contact and it's about understanding each other.
'This year's festival is in partnership with our Qatari friends. And that is the important thing about this year's festival, it's not about just about British culture but working together with Qatari cultural institutions, he added.
The Qatar British Festival 2017 has been organised by the British Council in partnership with the British Embassy. Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim AI Sulaiti, General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation- Katara and Dr Frank Fitzpatrick, Director British Council Qatar were also present during the official opening of the Festival.
A panel discussion on architectural themes, covering the topics of ‘Transformation of The Built Environment in Doha and Its Impact on the Architectural Identity' and ‘Everyday Life and Public Space' will be held on November 29. Winners of the Unlimited Doha Design Prize and special guest speakers will be part of the discussion and the event will run in partnership with Qatar University's Faculty of Engineering and University College London - Qatar.
Ajyal Youth Film Festival, organised by the Doha Film Institute will also be launched on November 29 and it is supported by the British Council as a friend of the Festival.
The British film Perched by director Liam Harris will be screened during the film festival. A young film jury from the UK together with others from different countries will be in Doha to evaluate the films in their categories and choose a winning film at the Ajyal competition.
While, art and architecture will combine at Katara's Corniche, where there will be a maze representing the streets of old Doha. It will feature a selection of traditional Qatari games. Children can enjoy creating their own collages of the existing streets of Doha and will be able to design their dream spaces. It will be open to the public from November 30 to December 5.
The Healthy Lifestyle UK Alumni networking event will be held on December 2, at the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim AI Thani Museum. Also an exhibition of UK branded cars will be available to attendees, with a special Formula 1 car.
The Welsh Government, in partnership with the British Embassy, Qatar Airways and Cardiff Airport, will organise a business briefing to highlight opportunities for developing links between Qatar and Wales. These links will be further boosted by the launch of Qatar Airways flights between Doha and Cardiff from May 1, 2018.
Other events during the British Festival include British Festival Tea Time at the Shangri-La Hotel which started yesterday and ‘Jingle All The Way', a concert by the Doha Singers to be performed on November 30. Also British schools will be participating in the festival, and Sherborne Qatar will be performing Macbeth.
The 2017 Qatar British Festival finale will be held on December 8 at the Abdul Aziz Nasser Theatre, Souq Waqif. Celebrated conductor-composer James Shearman is coming to Doha to conduct the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at the closing event.
‘The Planets' and other works from the UK such as James Bond 007 will be performed alongside music from Independence Day, The Bridge on the River Kwai and many more. The performance will conclude with the premiere of Qatari composer Dana Alfardan's latest composition.
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