Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village, also known simply as Katara, is a cultural and commercial complex in Doha, Qatar, located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl.
It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.
Overview
Katara Cultural Village was established in 2010 on reclaimed land along Doha's coastline as a purpose-built complex for cultural exchange and the arts. Designed to resemble a traditional Qatari village, it features low, sand-colored buildings with flat roofs, shaded alleys, and courtyards, alongside contemporary facilities. Its location between West Bay and the Pearl positions it within one of the capital's most prominent waterfront areas.The complex contains a variety of venues including art galleries, theatres, concert halls, libraries, a multi-purpose cinema, and a multi-purpose conference hall, which host performances and festivals throughout the year. Outdoor features include the -long Katara Beach, offering activities such as swimming, pedal boating, and kayaking, as well as a promenade lined with public art. Two parks are foud in Katara: the North Hills Park and the South Hills Park, both located on Katara Hills, an artificial hill featuring lush vegetation, a water stream and walking trails.
Katara's landmarks include a 3,275-square-metre marble amphitheatre, blending ancient Greek and traditional Arabic design elements, which can seat up to 5,000 spectators. The complex is also home to the Ottoman-style Golden Mosque, adorned with gold tiles, and the Katara Mosque, designed by Turkish architect Zainab Fadil Oglu and decorated with turquoise and purple mosaics. Traditional pigeon towers, constructed of brick and clay and measuring in height, are another distinctive feature. The Opera House, seating 550, is the only venue of its type in Qatar and hosts concerts and cultural events.
A museum showcasing the country's maritime heritage was opened in November 2015. It is also the site of Al Bahie Auction House. It includes a open-air shopping mall equipped with outdoor air conditioning, named 21 High St. The complex is host to a variety of different exhibitions, festivals, workshops, lectures, concerts and religious activities.
Cultural organizations
Katara hosts the following cultural organizations:- Al Gannas Association, an organization for hunting and falconry.
- Al Bahie Auction House, dedicating to auctioning works of art.
- Arab Postal Stamp Museum, a museum covering the postal history of 22 countries.
- Bedaya Center, a career center dedicating to helping young Qataris find employment.
- Brooq Magazine, a monthly cultural magazine established in 2003.
- Doha Film Institute, a film production company that promotes local and regional filmmakers.
- Forum of Arabic and International Relations, a cultural organization formed to promote intraregional relations and dialogue.
- Katara Art Center, an art center founded in 2012.
- Katara Art Studios, an organization that holds art workshops and organizes local art-related events.
- Katara Beach Club, a sports and wellness club.
- Katara Planetarium, a planetarium which has a capacity for 200 viewers and boasts a 22-meter display.
- Poet Majles, a center dedicated to Arabic poetry.
- Qatar Fine Arts Association, one the oldest artist societies in the country.
- Qatar Music Academy, a government-sanctioned academy that trains students in music.
- Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, an orchestra that performs both western and Arabic music.
- Qatar Museums Gallery-Katara.
- Sout Al Khaleej, an Arabic-language public radio station.
- Visual Art Center, which showcases the work of local artists and holds educational workshops.
- Youth Hobbies Center, a youth center that holds workshops on activities such as photography, stamp collecting, animation and video games.
Cultural awards