Sheikha Al Mayassa Opens AISP Exhibition and Honors Doha Design Prize Winners
Sheikha Al Mayassa Opens AISP Exhibition and Honors Doha Design Prize Winners
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, has officially opened the inaugural Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) exhibition at Fire Station. During the same event, she honored the four winners of the Doha Design Prize 2026.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, opened the inaugural Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP) exhibition at Fire Station on Sunday. The event also served to honor the four winners of the Doha Design Prize 2026.
The AISP exhibition marks the debut of the institution under its new name, Fire Station - Centre for Contemporary Art Practices. This rebranding signals a strategic shift toward emphasizing artistic research, critical dialogue, and creative production. The show features works by 22 artists from Qatar alongside participants from 14 other countries.
The exhibition represents the culmination of a nine-month program involving research, experimentation, and mentorship. It was curated by Wael Shawky, Artistic Director of Fire Station. Shawky stated that the program aims to bring emerging artists together with internationally recognized practitioners to strengthen their work and facilitate cross-cultural exchange.
Spanning five galleries and the Plaza, the displayed works explore themes of migration, memory, belonging, public space, and cultural heritage. The mediums include sculpture, moving image, sound, immersive installations, painting, and mixed media. The AISP succeeds the previous Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme and draws upon an international community of mentors.
In addition to the exhibition opening, Sheikha Al Mayassa presented awards to the four winners of the Doha Design Prize 2026 during the ceremony at the Museum of Islamic Art.
(S.Andries--TPT)
