Tribune News Network
Doha
‘SkillFest’ exhibition, sponsored by Visit Qatar, kicked off on July 15 and spans across four different locations in the country: Msheireb Galleria, Place Vendome, Mall of Qatar and West Walk. The inaugural event invites visitors to immerse themselves in local arts, crafts and culture, celebrating local and sustainable arts and crafts inspired by Qatar’s marine environment, and emphasising creativity, culture and community interaction.
The event is led by local and resident artists and craftsmen, featuring a variety of activities and exhibitions. Highlights include Arabic calligraphy, astronomy and science exhibitions, manuscripts and anecdotes, pavilions showcasing local marine creatures, and photography exhibitions by Qatari photographers such as Azzam Al-Mannai. The Qatar Photography Center also exhibits works by artists Khaled Al Jabri and Faisal Al Jarkas.
In addition, the artisan markets feature products by 24 artists, and there are competitions for visitors with valuable prizes for the winners.
Hamad Al Khaja, head of Events and Festivals Technical Support Section at Qatar Tourism, said: "Spread across the country in different locations, SkillFest invites people to take part in artistic workshops and exhibitions to celebrate local culture and environment. Educational and hands-on events like these demonstrate Visit Qatar’s ongoing commitment to diversifying its events offerings, and emphasis on the importance of arts and culture. We wish everyone a warm welcome to the first edition of SkillFest.”
Artist and co-founder of the event, Bachir Mohamad, said: "The goal of the festival is to celebrate the rich fabric of Qatari life. Each location will host unique pavilions, offering visitors the opportunity to experience different aspects of Qatari heritage and contemporary culture. We are confident that the natural and environmental elements that inspired the event will have the same inspiring effect on visitors.”
Qatari artist Ahmed Al-Emadi, co-founder of Bluribbon Design Atelier, one of the co-organisers, added that the festival is an opportunity to develop skills for everyone, whether they are amateurs or professionals. He stated, "We are delighted to collaborate with Visit Qatar and the partners of the SkillFest in designing and executing four temporary public art installations launched simultaneously in the four commercial complexes throughout the duration of this festival.”
Designed by Hassan Al Mutawaa and named by Faisal Al Naimi, the four mascots of SkillFest represent the diverse forms of life that are found in Qatar’s marine environment. Laffan, the whale shark, is inspired by the calm and gentle whale sharks found in Qatar’s waters, primarily around the Ras Laffan area. Barga is a calm and graceful dugong, while Safia, the turtle, is a symbol of agility and endurance. Rahhal is a stingray which embodies fast movement and successful camouflage. All mascots represent large, yet gentle and calm marine animals found in Qatar’s waters that represent the diverse, local marine ecosystem crucial for Qatar’s environmental heritage. These mascots are the driving forces of the event, and their statues are found at the four different locations.
SkillFest is now running until August 15. Entry to both the events and workshops are free, though some workshops require prior registration. To facilitate access to the programme, the event organisers provide all information through the official website www.skillfest.qa and social media pages @skillfest.qa.