{
  "id": 13040836,
  "title": "Year of Culture connects Qatar designers with Mexican artisans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/year-of-culture-connects-qatar-designers-with-mexican-artisans",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T05:43:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Peninsula Qatar",
    "slug": "the-peninsula-qatar",
    "url": "https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/09/10/2026/year-of-culture-connects-qatar-designers-with-mexican-artisans"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mexico City welcomed a unique exhibition from October 8 to November 1, 2026, as part of the Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture. The showcase, \"Visión y Tradición,\" took place at the National Museum of Anthropology and featured four designers from the MENASA region collaborating with Mexican master artisans.\n\nThe residency, \"Crafting Design Futures,\" was spearheaded by Design Doha, with each pair exploring glass engraving, clay, ceramics, and hand-hammered copper. Syrian designer Kenan Alkuwatly partnered with master engraver José Cruz; Lebanese designer Shirine Sbaiti collaborated with ceramic artisans Norberto y Rosi; Yasamin Shaikhi from Qatar worked with Estudio Guerrero; and British-Indian architect and designer Armaan Bansal collaborated with Alan Pureco's family workshop.\n\nThroughout the residency, designers engaged with the artisans to develop their work, with ideas evolving through the process of creation. Initial concepts changed as designers encountered new techniques, materials, and knowledge passed down through generations. The resulting objects not only reflected the designers' original concepts but also showcased the creative contributions of the artisans and the conversations between them.\n\nDesign Doha Director Fahad Al Obaidly emphasized that craft is a valuable form of knowledge in its own right. He noted that the residency encouraged designers to listen and allow the artisans' experience to shape their thinking and the objects themselves. In a world increasingly driven by digital tools and speed, working directly with materials and people with decades of expertise provided designers with a unique perspective on value, authorship, and collaboration.\n\nThe Year of Culture program in Doha highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge in contemporary creative practice, as Qatar continues to invest in preserving its heritage while developing its creative and design sectors.",
  "summary": "<p>Mexico City: Years of Culture’s Crafting Design Futures residency, developed by Design Doha as part of the Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, joined Design Week Mexico’s Visi&oacute;n y Tradici&oacute;n programme, bringing four designers from Qatar and the wider Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region into collaboration with Mexican master artisans.</p> <p>Open at…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Visión y Tradición\" exhibition showcased in Mexico City from Oct 8 to Nov 1, 2026.",
    "\"Crafting Design Futures\" residency connected Qatar designers with Mexican artisans.",
    "Collaboration resulted in unique objects reflecting designers' concepts and artisans' expertise."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Qatar Year of Culture program fosters cross-cultural exchange, blending traditional techniques with modern design to redefine creative collaboration and value in a digitally driven world.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}