 | ||
Katara is a cultural village in Doha, Qatar. It is located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl.
Contents
- Etymology
- Overview
- Development projects
- Facilities
- Fath Al Kheir journey
- Katara Art Forum
- Aida
- Management
- References
It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), an event that it has hosted ever since.
Etymology
"Katara" was the historical name used for Qatar prior to the 18th century.
Overview
Many Qatari organisations have their offices in Katara. These include the Qatari Society for Engineers, Qatar Fine Arts Society, Visual Art Centre, Qatar Photographic Society, Childhood Cultural Centre, Theatre Society and Qatar Music Academy. The QMA manages the QMA Gallery, a public art venue in the village. The buildings and facilities at Katara were deliberately arranged in order to reflect the country's cultural and architectural heritage.
Development projects
Doha Bay crossing (also known as Sharq Crossing) is a causeway between 600 m and 1,300 m which will link Hamad International Airport with the district of Katara. It is set for completion by 2021.
A 38,000 km2 project dubbed "Katara Plaza" was launched in April 2015. It will feature a number of retail outlets.
Facilities
Katara has an open amphitheater, an opera house, a multi-purpose cinema, a multi-purpose conference hall, a beach, and a souq. A museum showcasing the country's maritime heritage was opened in November 2015.
Fath Al Kheir journey
Fath Al Kheir journey is a voyage organized by Katara management to promote Qatar's maritime heritage. The first voyage took place in the Persian Gulf from 22 November to 18 December, 2013. A second voyage was launched on 6 October, 2015. The ship was manned by 40 Qataris in traditional attire and sailed around the Arabian Sea, with the key destinations being Oman and India. The Indian ambassador to Qatar hailed it as a milestone in the countries' bilateral relations
Katara Art Forum
A two-day discussion forum for the arts was inaugurated in Katara in 2014. An annual event, the forum features international and local researchers who deliver speeches on topics such as the history of Arab art and Arab art groups.
Aida
In October 2012, an event featuring Giuseppe Verdi's classic opera Aida was hosted in Katara's amphitheatre. It was the first opera to be held in Qatar. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra were featured in the opera, alongside at least 80 singers and 35 actors.
Management
Dr. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti as the General Manager of Katara Cultural village.