Doha, November 05 (QNA) – The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) is one of the most important civilization and enlightenment centers, from which the sparkling culture and Qatari heritage are spread around the world, and where world arts and cultures are inspired and evoked to be a forum of cultures on the land of the State of Qatar.
The Amiri Decision No. 38 of 2010, establishing the Cultural Village Foundation, has determined the foundation’s goals in the contribution to advancing the cultural movement, encouraging and highlighting the creative and innovative energies, which vested with the responsibility to make the cultural village an environment conducive to patronize and reinvigorate the cultural, innovative, intellectual and artistic activity, equip it to be a forum for innovators and intellectuals and contribute to spreading the cultural awareness by organizing festivals, exhibitions, seminars and other activities of a cultural nature.
Katara site has been specifically selected, because of its proximity to seashore and emanating from the long-standing and persistent legacy of the Qatari people whose life has been culturally connected to the sea since ancient times by pearl diving. Thus, Katara idea emerged from a dream that Qatar can be a global beacon of culture shining from the Middle East through theatre, arts, literature, music, conferences, and exhibitions for the cultural village to remain an exceptional project, where hopes and human reactions abound.
Over its history, Katara has succeeded to be a forum for cultures, and it has been a glimpse of future for a world where people from all diverse cultural backgrounds go beyond geographical boundaries and adopt common issues to support human unity.
Katara, which blended the past beauty with future bright through its events, has attracted peoples from different nationalities who have been keen to get familiarized with the world cultures via its impressive theatres, musical concert venues, exhibition halls and other sophisticated facilities to lead a multitude of cultural activities.
While embracing the worlds cultures, Katara Cultural Village has hosted international festivals that reflect different cultures, notably the Cultural Diversity Festival and Katara European Jazz Festival, in addition to a multitude of events and exhibitions of global arts and theatres.
The Cultural Village Foundation upholds the State of Qatar’s culture and heritage through an array of major festivals and exhibitions that unequivocally convey the Qatari heritage to the world, notably Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi), which will attain its 14th edition next January, Halal Qatar Festival, Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, Katara Traditional Bearings Festival and others, reflecting the notions of Qatari culture.
The cultural structure and facilities have conspicuously helped achieve the goals of Katara Cultural Village Foundation, which made it the most important landmark in the State of Qatar, where all citizens, residents and tourists are keen to visit them during morning and evening times.
The village embraces the gem of the cultural village, the Katara Amphitheater, which is a crafted balance between the classical Greek theatre concept and the everlasting Islamic features. The seating capacity of the 3,275 sqm theatre is 5,000 persons, making it one of largest theatres in the Middle East, and was officially opened on Dec. 11, 2011, with a spectacular concert especially created by the Greek legendary Vangelis.
Katara also embraces Drama Theatre, which is inspired by the traditional building architecture of Doha, reflecting the sense of intermix between the modern psyche and traditional pattern in Qatar. The seating capacity of the Drama Theatre is 430 people, and it is designed to host a wide range of events and film screenings.
In addition, Katara embraces the Opera House which is the only facility of its kind in Qatar, and home to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. It has rapidly transformed itself to become a preferred hub for some of the world’s leading artists and musicians. Its uniquely sophisticated architectural model blends modern architecture and traditional Islamic design and boasts a seating capacity of 550 guests. Moreover, the Opera House has areas to host guests in the royal terrace, and halls for executive and VIP individuals in attendance, in addition to halls that host conferences, lectures, seminars and exhibitions through which Katara managed to attract a wide spectrum of art admirers at home and abroad.
In addition, one of Katara most important landmarks is Al Thuraya Planetarium, which offers a rare experience to visitors, blending education and entertainment, especially students, families, and astronomy enthusiasts.
The main component of the planetarium is a full-dome digital system with a seating capacity of 200 visitors, and features a 22-meter screen, equipped with state-of-the-art digital projectors. The Planetarium also displays astronomical figures and history, and several models of the planets of the solar system in various sizes, in addition to models of space shuttles and astronaut suits.
The Cultural Village contains a range of societies, cultural and artistic centers, notably Al Gannas Association, Doha Film Institute, the Forum for Arab and International Relations, Qatar Fine Arts Association, Arab Postal Stamp Museum, Katara Art Studios, Poet Majles, Qatar Music Academy, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Visual Art Center, Sout Al Khaleej radio and others, in addition to Mosques which per se are considered architectural masterpiece.
Katara which stretches over a distance of one million kilometers, embraces a wide range of facilities that promote entertainment and shopping starting from Katara beach, which offers stunning views on Doha horizon and a plethora of sports activities and water sports, as well as Katara’s Gardens, which include large green spaces extended along the unique architectural edifice, within the exquisite geometric system which features the aesthetic design and the different components. The diversity of ornamental plants and trees which hits (225) tree brought from different countries and continents to grow in Qatar, in harmony with the main idea to make Katara a shady oasis for cultures confluence and blending of civilizations, and a spacious yard opened to the world thought, celebrating art, creativity and talent.
Katara also includes an array of restaurants and cafes gathering the finest international restaurants across the cultural village, including Katara 21 High Street which express the diverse cultures to satisfy the visitors’ tastes from various nationalities.
Since the year 150 AD, Katara was the first and most ancient name designated for Qatar Peninsula in geographic and historical maps, and this designation emerged for the first time on the map drawn by the geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus in 150 AD, published in 882 AD -1477 AD and later in the Historical Atlas of Islam, the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula in the middle of the second century AD were identified. It also stipulated the geographical location of Qatar Peninsula under the name of Catara, Northwest of Gerra or near it, and to the west of the town of Cadara.
Within this framework, Katara Cultural Village Foundation decided to revive Qatar’s old name to uphold the bonds that bring human to his history roots and to honor Qatar’s distinguished position since the dawn of history. (QNA)