Q Life Magazine Q Magazine (US) May 2016 | Page 26
| Issue 2
Fire Station Artist in
Residence:
A Hub for
Creative Exchange
R
edesigned as a hub for the local art community,
the Fire Station will house a rolling nine-month
Artist in Residence program. Chosen artists will 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 program
will 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 is
under renovation, with special care 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 will provide 24 artist studios and
exhibition space. New public spaces will 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 will display the fruits of their labor.
26