Qatar aims to expand cultural cooperation with France

New agreements support joint exhibitions, research, and training programs between leading institutions

DOHA, Qatar (MNTV) – Qatar is looking to deepen its cultural ties with France through an expanded framework of cooperation that encompasses heritage preservation, contemporary art, education, and creative industries. 

The initiative reflects a shared ambition to build a strong cultural partnership that supports innovation, research, and artistic exchange between both countries, reported Qatar’s The Peninsula.

The move was formalized during a high-level meeting in Doha between Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, and Rachida Dati, minister of Culture of the French Republic. 

The two sides underscored their mutual commitment to strengthening institutional partnerships and launching collaborative cultural projects.

As part of this push, several framework agreements were signed between Qatari and French institutions. A central agreement between Qatar Museums and the French Ministry of Culture sets the stage for joint professional training initiatives in the cultural sector.

It includes potential partnerships with institutions such as Femis, the Institut national du Patrimoine, Manufactures nationales, and the new Qatar Preparatory School.

Other agreements were signed with prominent French cultural entities. Qatar Museums and the Établissement public des musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie committed to collaboration on research, academic programs, and potential mutual loans of artworks. 

A similar agreement with the Musée Guimet opens doors for future partnerships in the field of Asian arts, with joint exhibitions, conservation efforts, and residency programs under discussion.

In the area of design and craftsmanship, Qatar Museums partnered with Sèvres – Cité de la céramique and Mobilier national to foster connections between French and Qatari designers and artisans. 

This partnership will focus on co-organized exhibitions, research initiatives, and cultural programming in both countries.

The Doha Film Institute signed a cooperation agreement with France’s Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée to promote co-productions and develop training and education programs for professionals and younger audiences in both nations’ film industries.

Additionally, Qatar National Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France signed a memorandum of understanding to support research collaborations, professional training, and the digitization of Islamic manuscripts. 

These efforts will enhance both libraries’ digital collections and contribute to wider scholarly access.

In a joint statement, Qatar Museums and the French Ministry of Culture emphasized the unprecedented scope and ambition of the agreements. 

They said the partnerships mark “a shared determination of France and Qatar to take their cultural relationship to a higher level, and to make it one of the fundamental pillars of their bilateral relationship.”

Both sides also agreed to work closely in the coming months to activate the partnerships through the launch of initial projects and further institutional engagement.