The Best is Yet to Come: A Message from the Executive Director, Fatima Al-Dosari Dearest Friends, I wanted to share a personal note of thanks for your support along with our updates on our most recent news and developments in 2020. In these challenging times, we are reminded of what matters to us the most: You. We are truly honored and appreciative of your continuous desire and enthusiasm to be part of our growing community. As an independent non-profit organization, your trust, support, and contributions are what empower us to fulfill our mission and have a positive impact. Together, we are able to further accentuate the cultural ties between Qatar and America. Since our organization’s inception three years ago, we have experimented with many different ventures and opportunities to find what you value the most. From photography competitions to food festivals and interfaith dinners to art exhibitions, we learned to listen and adapt to challenges while learning from our mistakes. For the past twelve months, we have been actively reflecting on these experiences and planning our next chapter. We evolved from a 501(c)(4) civic organization that focused on political, economic, and social issues to a 501(c) (3) public charity focused on cultural activities that further the arts, education, and charitable communityfocused pursuits. To accompany this evolution and further its aims, we welcomed a new Board of Directors that has invaluable expertise and prestige in the worlds of culture, art, business, and academia. Collectively, our new Board of Directors, myself, and our passionate team are excited to make these new changes to better serve you. I am also happy that this past year the Qatar-America Institute (QAI) officially embarked on a new path forward as the new Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC). To help us deliver on our vision, we relocated to a grand historic building situated at the heart of Washington DC’s DuPont Circle. Our new space will be a unique destination in the nation’s capital evoking history, curiosity, beauty, and serenity. Our ‘Bayt’ (Arabic for home) provides ample space for artists, creatives, designers, and storytellers from the United States, Qatar, and the wider Arab and Islamic world to both create and showcase their work. To complement our renewed focus on culture, we also revamped both the style and substance of our brand identity, including our logo, digital properties, and social media channels. Furthermore, we have spent many months refining and redesigning our programs to align with the values and mission we strive to reflect. Last but not least, we have been fortunate to offer new professional opportunities to further grow our team. I hope this message has sparked your interest and excitement to be part of this change. I recognize how the pandemic has presented the arts and culture sector with a new reality, but with your support and our new cultural identity, I’m confident that we will be able to genuinely create a difference together. I’m eager to share more updates over the coming months as we continue on this journey together. Thank you again for being part of our community, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, ideas, or potential partnerships. With Gratitude,
Fatima Al-Dosari Executive Director
