Education minister showcases Qatar's expanding cultural diplomacy through YoC initiative
Tribune News Network
Doha
As the Years of Culture (YoC) initiative celebrates its 15th edition in 2025, Qatar marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy with its most ambitious programme yet — simultaneous partnerships with two countries in a single year.
This bold evolution is the focus of a newly published opinion piece by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater in Arab News, titled 'Qatar's Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform.'
First launched in 2012 as a bilateral cultural exchange programme, the Years of Culture was originally designed to raise global awareness of Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first to be held in the Arab world. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar's international outreach, building long-term, cross-sector collaboration through cultural and creative engagement.
'In an increasingly interconnected world, culture has become a critical language of diplomacy,' writes Al Khater. 'What began as a platform to welcome the world to Qatar has transformed into a mechanism for long-term, reciprocal collaboration across sectors and borders.'
Through a diverse array of programming, ranging from street art installations and collaborative museum exhibitions to culinary exchanges, archaeological fieldwork, and trade fairs, Years of Culture exemplifies a decentralised and inclusive model of diplomacy. It invites participation not only from diplomats and policymakers, but also from chefs, students, economists, volunteers, and artists.
Legacy is a recurring theme in the op-ed. Examples include the 'On the Move' exhibition, which debuted as part of Qatar-MENASA 2022 and later toured in China, and the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, which spans exhibitions, capacity-building, and the revival of traditional glassmaking techniques in Morocco.
A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar and France in 2024 further underscores the programme's long-term policy impact, building on the foundations laid during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture.
The article also reflects on how Qatar is redefining cultural exchange, not as a unilateral export or import of identity, but as a co-created, evolving dialogue.
This is evident in the growing presence of contemporary Qatari art in former partner nations such as Germany, Russia, and China, where young Qatari and Qatar-based artists gain global visibility and form lasting international networks.
Looking ahead, the Years of Culture is poised to expand beyond the model of annual bilateral partnerships into a continuous, multidimensional platform for global engagement. Born in Doha, but resonating far beyond,' writes Al Khater, the programme is now seen as a cultural and intellectual hub, encouraging dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect in an era of shifting global narratives.
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Education minister showcases Qatar's expanding cultural diplomacy through YoC initiative
Tribune News Network Doha As the Years of Culture (YoC) initiative celebrates its 15th edition in 2025, Qatar marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy with its most ambitious programme yet — simultaneous partnerships with two countries in a single year. This bold evolution is the focus of a newly published opinion piece by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater in Arab News, titled 'Qatar's Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform.' First launched in 2012 as a bilateral cultural exchange programme, the Years of Culture was originally designed to raise global awareness of Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first to be held in the Arab world. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar's international outreach, building long-term, cross-sector collaboration through cultural and creative engagement. 'In an increasingly interconnected world, culture has become a critical language of diplomacy,' writes Al Khater. 'What began as a platform to welcome the world to Qatar has transformed into a mechanism for long-term, reciprocal collaboration across sectors and borders.' Through a diverse array of programming, ranging from street art installations and collaborative museum exhibitions to culinary exchanges, archaeological fieldwork, and trade fairs, Years of Culture exemplifies a decentralised and inclusive model of diplomacy. It invites participation not only from diplomats and policymakers, but also from chefs, students, economists, volunteers, and artists. Legacy is a recurring theme in the op-ed. Examples include the 'On the Move' exhibition, which debuted as part of Qatar-MENASA 2022 and later toured in China, and the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, which spans exhibitions, capacity-building, and the revival of traditional glassmaking techniques in Morocco. A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar and France in 2024 further underscores the programme's long-term policy impact, building on the foundations laid during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture. The article also reflects on how Qatar is redefining cultural exchange, not as a unilateral export or import of identity, but as a co-created, evolving dialogue. This is evident in the growing presence of contemporary Qatari art in former partner nations such as Germany, Russia, and China, where young Qatari and Qatar-based artists gain global visibility and form lasting international networks. Looking ahead, the Years of Culture is poised to expand beyond the model of annual bilateral partnerships into a continuous, multidimensional platform for global engagement. Born in Doha, but resonating far beyond,' writes Al Khater, the programme is now seen as a cultural and intellectual hub, encouraging dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect in an era of shifting global narratives.
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Write-up by H.E. Lolwah Al Khater in "Arab News" emphasises Qatar's expanding cultural diplomacy initiatives
As the Years of Culture initiative celebrates its 15th edition in 2025, Qatar marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy with its most ambitious programme yet—simultaneous partnerships with two countries in a single year. This bold evolution is the focus of a newly published opinion piece by H.E. Lolwah Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, in Arab News, titled 'Qatar's Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform.' First launched in 2012 as a bilateral cultural exchange programme, the Years of Culture was originally designed to raise global awareness of Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™—the first to be held in the Arab world. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar's international outreach, building long-term, cross-sector collaboration through cultural and creative engagement. 'In an increasingly interconnected world, culture has become a critical language of diplomacy,' writes H.E. Al Khater. 'What began as a platform to welcome the world to Qatar has transformed into a mechanism for long-term, reciprocal collaboration across sectors and borders.' Through a diverse array of programming, ranging from street art installations and collaborative museum exhibitions to culinary exchanges, archaeological fieldwork, and trade fairs, Years of Culture exemplifies a decentralised and inclusive model of diplomacy. It invites participation not only from diplomats and policymakers, but also from chefs, students, economists, volunteers, and artists. Legacy is a recurring theme in the op-ed. Examples include the 'On the Move' exhibition, which debuted as part of Qatar-MENASA 2022 and later toured in China, and the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, which spans exhibitions, capacity-building, and the revival of traditional glassmaking techniques in Morocco. A recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar and France in 2024 further underscores the programme's long-term policy impact, building on the foundations laid during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture. The article also reflects on how Qatar is redefining cultural exchange, not as a unilateral export or import of identity, but as a co-created, evolving dialogue. This is evident in the growing presence of contemporary Qatari art in former partner nations such as Germany, Russia, and China, where young Qatari and Qatar-based artists gain global visibility and form lasting international networks. Looking ahead, the Years of Culture is poised to expand beyond the model of annual bilateral partnerships into a continuous, multidimensional platform for global engagement. 'Born in Doha, but resonating far beyond,' writes H.E. Al Khater, the programme is now seen as a cultural and intellectual hub, encouraging dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect in an era of shifting global narratives.
