Q Life Magazine Q Magazine December 2016 | Page 26
| Issue 1
Fire Station Artist
in Residence
A Hub for
Creative Exchange
R
edesigned as a hub for the local art community,
the Fire Station hosts a rolling nine-month Artist
in Residence programme. Chosen artists have the
opportunity to collaborate with fellow artists, benefit from
weekly mentoring sessions, and attend all exhibitions
and lectures. A springboard for emerging artists, the
programme seeks to encourage interaction among local
artists, academia, the community, and the flourishing art
scene in Qatar.
Under the supervision of Qatari Architect Ibrahim Al
Jeidah, Doha’s former Civil Defence headquarters has
been renovated, with special care taken to preserve many
of its original features, including the building’s façade.
The original station, built in 1982, was used for 30 years
until the last fire engine rolled out in December 2012.
The renovated building provides 24 artist studios and
an exhibition space. New public spaces include a café,
restaurant, bookshop, art supply shop, cinema, and artist
facilities. The public gallery at the Fire Station, called
the Garage, is dedicated to new talent. Here, artists in
residence now display the fruits of their labour.
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