The first visit of its kind to Qatar by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Damien Hirst’s first retrospective solo exhibition in the Middle East and an artistic journey by a Doha-based resident artist form part of the autumn calendar of upcoming events during Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, the organisers announced yesterday.
The busy autumn schedule of events was revealed at a press conference following the successful completion of over 50 events since the start of the programme earlier this year.
Celebrating the long-standing relationship between the two countries, Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture  - an initiative co-ordinated by the British Council and Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) - aims to forge new and support existing partnerships in the arts, education, sports and science while promoting an awareness and appreciation of each country’s culture, achievements and heritage.
Building on the success of the events in Qatar and the UK in the first half of the year, the autumn highlights announced yesterday included the BBC Symphony Orchestra to be held here from September 30 to October 1 at Katara Opera House.
The symphony will be conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, performing works by three of England’s finest composers: Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams.
The Damien Hirst: Relics Exhibition from October 10 to January 22, 2014, at Al Riwaq will feature the artist’s first retrospective solo exhibition in the Middle East.
Another upcoming highlight is the Ben Barbour Exhibition, to be held between October 23 and November 16, in which Ben will take viewers on an artistic journey from Qatar to the UK on a vessel transporting Qatargas’ LNG this summer.
The Doha-based resident artist’s drawings will be on display at Katara for three weeks.      
In October and November, Qatar UK 2013 will also host a series of Café Scientifique – a series of informal events where scientists will host talks in public cafés and parks across Doha.
Topics will vary from observation in human beings and animals to stargazing on the Corniche.
The autumn programme will also include a Women in Science day, in collaboration with Qatar Shell, at Qatar University on November 27. It will feature talks and workshops by leading and inspiring Qatari and UK female scientists.
For sporting enthusiasts, the Premier Skills coaching programme has been confirmed for October 19 to 23, to be organised by Qatar Football Association and Qatar Women’s Sport Committee.
Qatar UK 2013 will also host an International Schools Football Tournament  between December 12 and 18 in Doha.
Other forthcoming UK events include the V&A Pearls Exhibition (September 21 to January 19,  2014), exploring the history of pearls at the world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport (until  October 13) exhibition at the National Football Museum, Manchester; and Ferozkoh: Traditional Arts From Contemporary Afghanistan (November 14 to January 19, 2014) exhibition at Leighton House Museum, London.
Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture recently produced a film, celebrating the strength of the bilateral relationship between the UK and Qatar and highlighting some of the collaborative projects created during the Year of Culture in the fields of visual and performing arts, sports and science.
Through events such as the first Arts and Disability Festival in the Middle East, the Ehtifal family day in Hyde Park as well as Ben Barbour’s recent trip on an LNG vessel from Qatar to the UK, the enhanced cultural
interchange has strengthened the relationship between the two nations, which will continue to flourish even when the Year of Culture concludes at the end of 2013.  
Speaking at the press conference, new British Ambassador to Qatar Nicholas Hopton said: “Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture has been a tremendously eventful year till date. People in both Qatar and the UK have had many opportunities to share and experience first-hand cultural, sporting and musical events from each other’s nation. The British embassy is very
excited about the upcoming UK Season here in Qatar and we
are lending our full support to the project.”
Miguel Blanco, QMA’s strategic cultural relations director, said: “Qatar UK 2013 is the second bilateral Year of Culture co-ordinated by QMA. Working together with the British Council and our platinum sponsors - Qatargas, Shell and Vodafone - this cultural exchange initiative with the UK has given us the opportunity to promote cultural dialogue and programmes, strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.”
British Council in Qatar director Martin Hope said, “It has been an honour to work with QMA on Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture; the year has been going from strength to strength with some fantastic experiences along the way. It has been and continues to be a year of firsts - we experienced STOMP in June, the BBC Symphony Orchestra is about to visit Qatar for the first time as is the Damien Hirst: Relics Exhibition. The year
has brought the best of Qatar to the UK and vice-versa. We are really excited to get people of
all ages and backgrounds involved and engaged in this cultural dialogue.”    
Spokesperson for Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture Hamad al-Eida said, “We are very pleased with the outcome of this collaboration in both Qatar and the UK till date. The Year of Culture has allowed us to experience and explore Qatari and British cultures in our countries, developing a deeper understanding for each other’s nation.”