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Heritage and Culture
Culture and the arts have received strong support in Qatar with the result that the country has an active and vibrant artistic community. Support for this field has been coordinated by the Department of Culture and Arts, which was established in 1977, and which supports preservation and expression of Qatar's heritage through collection of works, together with a full programme of classification, study and analysis. The Department provides financial and moral support to the Qatari folklore troupe, as well as documentation, preservation and revival of handicrafts at the ancient Al Kut Fort. It also sponsors intellectual works, the arts, theatrical and fine arts movements.
In the early 1980's the theatrical movement witnessed new developments culminating in the establishment of Qatar National Theatre in 1982, which accommodates 550 seats and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
As part of Qatar's focus on preservation of its traditional, historic and ancient heritage and encouragement of its cultural attributes, the Ruler's old fort residence in the heart of Doha, the country's capital city, was converted into the headquarters for Qatar National Museum, and is now under direction of the Department of Museums and Antiquities which supervises all Qatar's museums and archaeological digs.
The traditional art if boat building has been nurtured by a special Emiri Workshop which was established for the building and maintenance of traditional ships to preserve the Qashafah or shipbuilding profession. One of its most impressive achievements is construction of a large Bateel vessel by a Qatari shipbuilder (Qallaf). In addition to boat building support is given to a wide range of traditional handicrafts including sadu tailoring, jewellery manufacture, the pearling industry and making of traditional gold and silver embellished clothing.
Qatar's cultural movement remains active, both at home and overseas, through a programme of exhibitions, performances, lectures and readings. Qatari Cultural Weeks, which have been organised in several Arab and foreign countries, provide a valuable focus and celebration of these efforts. Finally, cultural centres in associated with youth movements, also organise a range of cultural and artisitc activities.
Sites of Archaeological and Historical Interest
Qatar National Museum
Established in 1912, and first inhabited by Sheikh bin Abdullah bin Jasim Al Thani, the ruler's residence was renovated and turned into a national museum in
1975.
Al Kut Fort
Established in 1880, Al Kut Fort was renovated in 1978 and became a handicraft exhibition centre.
Folklore Museum
Being the only model of its kind in Doha, and established in 1935, the Folklore Museum is housed in a traditional building with a wind-tower (Badjeir) open from all sides. It was renovated in 1982.
Al Jussasiyah
A series of low rocky outcrops, overlooking the north-eastern coast, which bear hundreds of scattered engravings, some of which are thought to date back to prehistory times.
Murawab Fort
Qatar's oldest fort, ddates back to the Abbasid era in the third century AH and consists of a fort built on the remains of a even older one that had been destroyed by fire.
Al Zubarah Fort
Established by local builders during the era of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jasim Al Thani the, well preserved for its characterised by its high thick walls and decorated tower.
Rukayat Fort
Dating back to the late 1800s, it is considered as a model of military architecture in the Gulf.
Al Ghuwair Fort
A rectangular building, dating back to the early 1900s and characterised by its thick clay and stone walls.
Borj Bazann Tower
Built in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this is a unique example of a surveillance towers in the region. It is characterised by its height, large size and decorated edges.
Al Wajbah Fort
Approximately 19 kms west of Doha, the oldest extant tower in Qatar, dating back to the nineteenth century, is the Al Wajbah fort. It was here that a famous battle took place in which Qatari people, led by the then ruler, Sheikh Qasim bin Mohammed Al Thani, defeated the Ottoman force in 1893.
House of Sheikh Mohammed bin Qasim
Situated at Umm Salal Mohammed, approximately 18 kms north of Doha, this is a fortified residence with two towers, serving both civil and defensive purposes, and containing a number of interesting architectural and decorative features.
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