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The State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany have a strategic partnership and close friendly relations for nearly fifty years. The two countries have established bridges and ties in various fields, including the cultural field, which have left a deep impression on the people of the two countries and brought a good impact on the hearts of the friendly people of the two countries.
Culture is considered the permanent ambassador of the State of Qatar’s relations with the countries of the world, as Qatar believes in the importance of cultural diplomacy in building strong relations between nations and peoples based on respect for diverse cultures, and that such culture is one of the most influential means of uniting peoples, encouraging dialogue and deepening understanding between them.
The cultural diplomacy pursued by the State of Qatar has successfully strengthened its external relations, particularly because it is a form of soft power that transcends political fluctuations and upholds human values of protecting privacy, respecting differences and ensuring constructive communication among everyone.
The State of Qatar also believes in the importance of exchanges between countries, not only at the political, commercial and economic levels, but also in opening up channels for cultural exchanges between countries, strengthening and protecting these channels so that peoples and societies of all countries can become parties to dialogue, build bridges, establish friendship and mutual understanding.
The State of Qatar has proven itself to be a thriving hub that ignites the flames of creativity, celebrates diversity, instills a deep sense of belonging, and aligns with the economic, social and human development pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 by embracing and investing in cultural expression.
The State of Qatar has also realized from an early age the importance of cultural exchanges in strengthening communication and consolidating relations with countries around the world, especially since it has a qualified cultural and educational infrastructure, including a number of outstanding major universities. In order to play a prominent role in cultural diplomacy, Qatar has launched global initiatives through various exhibitions, festivals and competitions, the most famous of which is the Cultural Year initiative held annually in cooperation between Qatar and a country in the world.
In 2017, Germany became Qatar’s outstanding cultural partner, a year in which the two countries hosted many rich events that led to a true rapprochement between Arab and German cultures, culminating in the opening of the Arab Cultural House (Al-Diwan) in Berlin, which became a hub for deepening civilizational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The House of Culture (Al-Diwan) is of great significance as it is the first Qatari cultural centre outside the State of Qatar and its opening marks a new chapter in Qatari-German cultural relations.
The Arab House of Culture (Al-Diwan) received a strong boost from the visit of the country’s Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, “may God bless him”, to the House on September 6, 2018. The visit of His Highness also expressed the importance that the State of Qatar attaches to strengthening cultural relations, as such relations have a positive impact on world peace, especially at a time when the House is just taking its first steps.
The National Pavilion was established by the State of Qatar with the aim of promoting Arab culture and making Germans and Europeans as a whole aware of the cultural, civilizational and humanitarian role of Arabs throughout the ages, thereby strengthening communication and understanding between Arabs and Germans.
The idea of establishing the Diwan stems from the State of Qatar’s recognition of the role of culture in building bridges of communication, dialogue and understanding between people and cultures, as culture plays a key role in knowing others, understanding their perspectives and understanding the challenges they face, especially because of the digital development we are experiencing today, which necessarily requires the promotion of values that promote cultural dialogue and mutual understanding.
Al-Diwan strives to create dialogue and interaction between the Arab community and the German public by organizing cultural events, as these cover a large part of cultural exchange, including art and photography exhibitions, paintings, theater, music and film.
The building where the center is located is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the upscale “Zehlendorf” neighborhood of the capital, Berlin. The Embassy of the State of Qatar restored and renovated this old building in a way that ensured the preservation of its historical features, and transformed it into the House of Arab Culture, which aims to bring different cultures together and build bridges of communication, and to introduce Arab culture in the fields of art, music, literature and film.
It houses a huge library that contains the rich and beautiful Arab culture and also hosts many representatives of German universities, intellectuals and research centers interested in Arab cultural affairs and dialogue among civilizations.
The fields of economy, culture, sports and development will continue to be important areas of cooperation between Qatar and Germany in the future, perhaps the successful role of Qatar Foundation at the global level has made it a very well-known entity in the German scientific community, one of the most prestigious universities in Germany, the University of Darmstadt, has reached an agreement to open a branch in Doha, and the Goethe-Institut, which is considered the most important German language institute, has also opened a branch in Doha, in addition to many important activities that are being prepared in the field of cultural relations between the two countries.
Today, Qatar has many large German companies operating in various fields, especially in science, development research and energy. The German School Doha plays an important role in teaching German and German language courses in Qatar.
In the context of Qatar’s cultural activities, the “Year of Culture” initiative held annually by the State of Qatar has also developed over the past decade into a platform that has generated strong resonance in encouraging cultural exchanges among countries, building lasting friendships and consolidating mutual understanding between peoples of various countries.
Under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Board of Trustees, Qatar Museums has launched the Year of Culture, an annual programme of international cultural exchange aimed at deepening understanding between countries and peoples. While official programmes last only one year, they often prolong the bonds of friendship, with culture recognised as one of the most effective tools for bringing people together, encouraging dialogue and deepening understanding.
Previous cultural years include: Qatar-Japan 2012, Qatar-UK 2013, Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-Turkey 2015, Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Germany 2017, Qatar-Russia 2018, Qatar-India 2019, France 2020, Qatar-USA 2021.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the initiative, the Year of Culture has established partnerships with all countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region, and Qatar Year of Culture – Middle East, North Africa and South Asia 2022 includes 26 countries in the region with embassies in Doha.
Germany’s cultural life is multifaceted, with around 400 theatres, 140 professional orchestras and 600 art museums, whose collections include outstanding and diverse collections from around the world, giving the German museum world a unique appeal. In a broad sense, Germany is a leading country in terms of books, with around 80,000 new books or publications published each year, in addition to 350 daily newspapers and thousands of magazines, all of which indicate that Germany is a media life at the peak of activity and vitality.
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