Under the name “Art For Tomorrow: The Global Promise of Culture,” the International New York Times is planning a new forum for contemporary art in Doha in March 2015. The conference will consist of various panel talks with internationally reputed and regional participants, such as heads of government, business leaders, and creative directors.
According to an official document, the conference aims to “explore the growing role of the arts as a catalyst of economic development and nation and city-branding” in Doha, a city which is aiming to position itself as the art and culture capital of the Middle East.
Sources tell us that the International New York Times is targeting several, yet-to-be-confirmed speakers, including Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority), Zaha Hadid (architect), Larry Gagosian (Owner of Gagosian Gallery), and Aida Mahmudova (Founder of Yarat Foundation), among many others. Furthermore, the newspaper is also discussing the participation of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation.
The speakers and conference moderators will showcase a critical analysis of the regional art scene, discussing various market subjects such as a the “new breed” of art collectors, commercial branding through arts and culture, regional funding of public arts and culture projects, city buildings (“new temple of arts”) in relation to a nation’s cultural ambitions, and how new technologies impact the economic infrastructure of the art world.
More on this as the story breaks.
