Sheikha Al Mayassa opens doors to AISP, honours Doha Design Prize winners

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Qatar Museums, officially inaugurated the Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) exhibition at Fire Station on Sunday. The show featured works by 22 artists from Qatar and 14 other nations, marking the completion of a nine-month program of research, experimentation, critical dialogue, and mentorship.

The exhibition, curated by Artistic Director Wael Shawky, was the first to open under the new name of Fire Station - Centre for Contemporary Art Practices. Shawky emphasized that the program fosters emerging artists by connecting them with internationally acclaimed practitioners to enhance their work and foster cross-cultural exchanges.

The exhibition spans five galleries and the Plaza and explores themes of migration, memory, belonging, public space, and cultural heritage through a variety of mediums, including sculpture, moving image, sound, immersive installations, painting, and mixed media. The AISP program, succeeding the previous Artist in Residence (AIR) Program, also benefited from the support of an international community of mentors.