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Collaboration is key to our work. We at QAIC ensure to consistently partner with organizations of similar missions to enhance exchange of ideas and achieve mutual goals. In working with partners, we learned how to expand our reach and impact to new audiences. This year, we had multiple events that we carried out jointly with other groups as well as exciting events that we had the pleasure to sponsor in the United States and Qatar.

Our partnership on “Art of Athletics Festival” inspired us to further our engagement with America Scores and support their mission and community of poets through a sponsorship of their activities in 2021. We also sponsored Mamag’s Storyhouse symposium in LA which is dedicated to bringing together the best established and emerging universal talent to expand the creation and distribution of groundbreaking cross-cultural narratives. Similarly, we sponsored two film-related initiatives, the first is Ajyal Film Festival by the Doha Film Institute, and ‘Me Against the World” an independent film by filmmaker, Dr. Mohana Rajakumar. Short by Shorties Films

QAIC offers numerous opportunities for students, post-graduates, and those passionate about the arts and cultural heritage to engage with the work of the Institute. Fellows and interns have the opportunity to conduct indepth research projects, learn various professional skill sets, and get involved with QAIC’s event programming.

QAIC’s Fellowship Program is a seasonal virtual and in-person fellowship opportunity for experienced creatives and scholars from the U.S., Qatar, and the Arab and Islamic worlds. Fellows will develop and author research and publications in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts and present their completed work at QAIC’s annual IMPART Summit.

QAIC also accepts candidates interested in a virtual and in-person internship experience that aligns with our mission and values alongside their educational goals. Interns are expected to compliment the day-to-day tasks across QAIC’s operations, communications, and programs teams. As an educational institution, QAIC’s internships provide significant training and beneficial learning opportunities to its interns. QAIC offers two tracks for internships: academic internship which is tied to the intern’s formal education and coursework, or volunteering internship which offers the knowledge and know-how of art & culture nonprofits.

Running art and cultural programming is no easy task, so it is with the help of dedicated volunteers that our events can be a success. Whether it’s staffing public festivals, assisting the setup of our exhibitions, or testing out future programming or products, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to get involved. In addition to getting hands-on experience and exposure, QAIC volunteers are also eligible for some exciting perks as a thanks for their service.

QAIC fellows and interns are given the opportunity to explore many creative pursuits while developing their professional experience, from conducting in-depth research, publishing articles, or helping to build out some of QAIC’s core programs.

The 2021 IMPART Summit dinner reception kicked off with a captivating Sufic dance performed by Khalid Al-Mawlawi.

QAIC hosted its inaugural IMPART Summit in November 2021 as a weekend-long event to convene and collaborate with a wide array of artists and creatives, as well as a multitude of other artistic institutions. IMPART serves as a culmination of QAIC’s activities for the respective year and as a “Congress for Creatives.”

IMPART is a platform created to celebrate the impact of QAIC’s art and cultural programs in both our local and international communities. These programs strive to elicit inclusion through expression and increase intercultural awareness to promote and connect innovators. The summit is an opportunity for stakeholders and potential partners to connect with QAIC and the larger Washington, DC community at large.

To formally open the 2021 IMPART Summit, QAIC hosted an intimate gala reception on the evening of November 19 in honor of the partners and creative talents who helped make IMPART possible. The dinner program began with opening remarks from the evening’s guest of honor, H.E. Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador to the United States from the State of Qatar, before continuing on to the entertainment segments and a coffee-themed dinner, a nod to QAIC’s upcoming programming in 2022.

On Saturday, November 20, the IMPART Summit opened to the DC community at large as almost a hundred visitors took part of the day long festival of food, film screenings, and cultural activities offered at QAIC’s Dupont Circle location. Attendees were able to view the many open exhibitions, watch a selection of “Made in Qatar” short films that recently screened at DFI’s Ajyal Film Festival, and taste various flavors of the Gulf, some of which were provided by Qatarbased Chef Shams Al-Qassabi.

Here at QAIC, we believe our team members are essential stakeholders to better understand and deliver on our mission. Throughout 2021, the QAIC team participated in teambuilding and educational activities geared around building comradery and exploring local artistic and cultural offerings. The team visited local McKenzie-Cross gallery in Virginia to learn about “the color blue,” as well as events and exhibitions at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. Team members also led in-house artistic activities, such as mosaic and perfume making, allowing space for fun and creativity. The team also enjoyed an iftar together during the month of Ramadan breaking bread and sharing comforting food reflecting their national dishes and family traditions at home such as Threed from Qatar and Foul from Sudan.