Doha Fire Station director Hala al-Khalifa talking about their “Artists in Residence programme”  at MIA yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudeen.

Qatar Museums (QM) will be launching a series of exhibitions and cultural events until January next year, showcasing the best from the country’s cultural scene.
Under the patronage of HE Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, these events will include a prestigious exhibition by a renowned international artist, photography shows and a bazaar.
“The Hunt: Princely Pursuits in Islamic Lands”, set from September 16 to January 9 at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), draws on artworks to explore and celebrate hunting and the related activities of polo, feasting and fighting.
QM said this exhibition is frequently commissioned and exhibited for royal display. Its artworks form a significant component of collections held by prominent Qatari and Turkish museums.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art will also host “Focus: Works from Mathaf Collection” from October 12 to February 14. It reflects a number of important defining moments in Arab history and artistic innovations in the region.
On October 18, QM will present a retrospective of Luc Tuymans’ work from October 18 to January 30, his first solo show in the Gulf region.
“Intolerance”, a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work, will include a series of wall paintings and a new body of work “The Arena”,’ created specifically for the show.
QM will also hold a series of events to celebrate the Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture.  
One is a photography exhibition titled “Artistic Journeys: New Angles, New perspectives” which will run from September 1 to 30 at the Qatar Photographic Society Building 18 at Katara – the Cultural Village.
Besides exhibitions, QM will also organise a self-guided tour, lecture series and a bazaar as part of the celebration.
The Archaeology and Heritage Conservation in Turkey lectures, to be held at University of College London Qatar in Education City from September to November, will cover topics such as Neolithic cultures of Eastern Anatolia, the challenges of preserving World Heritage Sites of Bursa and Cumalikizik, and underwater archaeology in Turkey.
A key part of the celebration (presented by QM and the Ministry of Culture of Turkey), the Turkish Festival and Bazaar will celebrate the rich and varied cultures of Turkey in Qatar by putting on a weekend of events at MIA Park.  
Visitors will see Turkey’s leading musicians and dancers will perform on stage. Other activities will include a Karagoz shadow play and workshop, calligraphy and marbling classes and exhibitions of photography and historic Turkish Film Posters.
Aimed at helping inspire an indigenous culture of creativity and innovation in Qatar, the “Artist in Residence” programme at the Fire Station marks an important milestone in QM’s goal to provide support to the next generation of cultural producers.
“We have a full season and it will begin next Tuesday. We will have a number of exhibitions which will include young artists at our beautiful new building,” Doha Fire Station director Hala al-Khalifa said.