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  THE EXHIBITION: “TRAPEZE“: Qatari Artists between Memories and Aspirations !Qatar has been propelled to the world stage in the recent decade, its activities in different arenas have made this small nation of the Arabian Gulf to be noticed and respected by its affinity towards other cultures in the world and its relentless will to give a voice to different peoples from different cultural paradigms and different religious creeds. “Trapeze”: Qatari Artists between Memories and Aspirations is an exhibition addressing the balancing act all Qatari artists perform wilts trying to be faithful and respectful to their heritage, tradition, cultural memories and their aspirations as artists from a nation of the word, with its eyes in the future. ! !Qatar is today one of the most talked about nations in the world stage, and this has had a considerable effect in its citizens and its art and cultural agents. There is an enormous curiosity regarding how Qataris are, How Qatari artists work, what do they produce as cultural objects, “Trapeze” is a contribution towards giving some answers to the Worlds art community on what is happening today in Qatar in the Visual Arts arena.! !As in a Trapeze act, Qatari artists are trying to perform as artists, In this new stage opened up to them, they are traveling along the stretched line, feeling the tension beneath their feet, and are carefully and honestly trying to make the journey between yesterday and tomorrow, between Heritage and Progress, between Memories and Aspirations.! !The Qatari artists presented in this exhibition were selected from a cross generational spectrum, via an open call to artists to participate by producing and submitting new artworks in the mediums of Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Video Art. All works to be presented will be developed and produced specifically for this exhibition. Katara’s curatorial team will select some of the most exciting artists and works being produced today in Qatar. ! !Katara will select artists that have proven through their work, and constant regular meaningful exhibitions, to work seriously and relentlessly towards a better understanding of their Country, the world and themselves, through their artistic practice. THE ARTISTS AND ARTWORKS The artists will exhibit artworks addressing the metaphorical theme of the exhibition, Qatari artists today are attempting to bridge the path between Memories and Aspirations, and this is a journey through subtenant tensions in the social and cultural fabric of their society. Respect for elders and for inherited knowledge and heritage is a pillar of Qatari culture and society. Artists, as one of the most important agents in promoting dialogue, evolution, progress and direction for a nation’s cultural exchanges, are vital in Qatar’s contemporary cultural landscape; they are shaping the future and suggesting directions for the dialogues that need to exist between Memories and Aspirations. OPEN CALL FOR QATARI ARTISTS RULES 1. Only Qatari born artists can participate in this open call. 2. Each artist can participate by submitting artwork from one of the following media: Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Video Art. 3. Artists can only participate in one of the above mention medium categories. 4. Artists have to produce and submit a minimum of 5 new artworks for evaluation by the selection committee. 5. Katara invites artists to submit artworks on the following themes reflecting Qatar’s evolution as a nation: Economy; Construction and Architecture; Health; Tourism; Education; Industry, and Heritage. 6. Katara will select artworks for the exhibition, and for acquisition for their permanent collection. 7. Deadline for submission of the artworks by the artists is 1st of November 2014. Artists should submit their artworks at the Katara Art Studios, Katara Building 19, directly and accompany their submission with professional high resolution photos of the artworks submitted, for purposes of inclusion in the Exhibition Catalogue and Media communications. SELECTION PROCESS !Katara will nominate an evaluation and selection committee composed by artists, art professionals and museum specialists lead by Katara’s Visual Arts curatorial team. ACQUISITIONS FOR KATARA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION The Selection committee will recommend to Katara that a certain number of artworks be acquired to the collection. Every artist will have the opportunity to have their work included in the exhibition, and or acquired by Katara for its permanent collection. Only artworks with exceptional quality will be considered in both cases. ARTIST STUDIO AVAILABILITY Katara Art Studios will make available artists’ studios for the artists that register their interest in producing artwork for this exhibition. Artists should register their interest via education@katara.net or by visiting the Katara Art Studios and contacting Mr. Sa’id Costa, Katara Curator of Visual Arts Exhibitions and Educational Programs. THE EXHIBITION AND ACQUISITIONS ANNOUNCEMENT The exhibition will be inaugurated at Katara Galleries on the 16th of December 2014, in anticipation and as part of Katara Celebrations of Qatar National Day initiatives for 2014.