Fire Station to Host Panel Exploring Future of Creative Development in Qatar

Doha: Qatar’s Fire Station, in partnership with Qatar Creates Talks, will host a public panel discussion titled “Creative Infrastructures: Spaces for Experimentation” on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, focusing on how creative development programmes can support artists, designers and other practitioners in building sustainable careers in Qatar. 

The discussion will take place at the Fire Station Auditorium from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Admission is free, the session will be conducted in English, and it is open to participants aged 18 and above. 

Supporting Artists Beyond Finished Work

The panel will examine how creative development programmes can provide support that goes beyond producing completed artworks or design projects.

Participants will discuss the importance of mentorship, peer learning, research, experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration in helping creative practitioners develop their skills and establish sustainable professional practices. 

The session will also explore how institutions can create environments where artists and designers are able to test ideas, refine their practices and develop meaningful connections with other creative professionals.

Leading Cultural Figures to Join Discussion

The panel will bring together representatives from several prominent cultural and educational organisations in Qatar.

Speakers include:

•    Dr. Elina Sairanen, Museologist at Katara Art Centre 
•    Marrakech Elizabeth Arbuckle, Acting Head of Public Programmes at M7 
•    Maryam Al Homaid, artist and Associate Professor at VCUarts Qatar 

The discussion will be moderated by Rose Lejeune, Head of Academic and Community Programmes at Fire Station. 

Lejeune said that while the Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) provides the starting point for the conversation, the broader discussion will consider what artists and other creative professionals need around them in order to experiment and grow.

Building a Sustainable Creative Ecosystem

The panel will also examine the broader role of creative-development initiatives within Qatar’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape.

Discussions will focus on how continued investment in people, knowledge and creative exchange can help create a more connected, resilient and sustainable cultural ecosystem while offering stronger long-term opportunities for artists and practitioners. 

The event is being held while applications are open for Fire Station’s Artists Intensive Study Program, giving the discussion added relevance to emerging and developing practitioners seeking structured opportunities to advance their work. 

Part of Qatar Museums’ Fall/Winter 2026 Season

“Creative Infrastructures: Spaces for Experimentation” forms part of Qatar Museums’ Fall/Winter 2026 season, which features exhibitions, talks and cultural events taking place across the organisation’s museums and creative hubs. 

The panel also forms part of the Practices of Cultural Futures conversation series, which brings together cultural leaders, curators, specialists and practitioners to discuss how cultural institutions produce knowledge, influence public imagination and contribute to the future of culture in Qatar. 

Through the session, Fire Station aims to encourage dialogue about the infrastructure, networks and opportunities required to help Qatar’s creative community continue to experiment, collaborate and develop over the long term.