A scene from last edition of the festival.
Doha: Traditionally, science and the arts have been viewed as two separate fields; however, with creativity, discovery, and exploration at the heart of both disciplines, there are a number of similarities – and Qatar Foundation is set to bring these together at the second edition of its D’reesha Performing Arts Festival.
Taking place from December 11 to 17, during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, a key component of this year’s festival is D’reesha of Invention. Sponsored by ConocoPhillips Qatar, it will highlight innovators and researchers from the Arab world, and through unique activities, presentations, and workshops, and will help bring science to life.
Hamda Al Kuwari, Events and Design Specialist at ConocoPhillips Qatar, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) – a QF partner university said: “ConocoPhillips Qatar supports and motivates young people, encouraging them to unleash their creative talents.
She joined ConocoPhillips Qatar after being nominated by VCUarts Qatar. “As I majored in graphic design, I never imagined that my path would lead me to a company that falls under the oil and gas sector, and within the field of science. Businesses often require creativity, including within science and technology departments. And this is what I tried to bring to my role, offering new ideas and an unconventional perspective.”
Highlighting how the organisation promotes creativity, she said: “What helped me adapt so well was the welcoming work environment, and the importance of encouraging creativity among employees, which is very similar to the ecosystem at Qatar Foundation.”
Al Kuwari went on to encourage young people to take risks, saying: “Don’t be afraid to work within a different field as you may have the opportunity to showcase your abilities in different areas and develop different skills.”
Dareen Dardor joined ConocoPhillips Global Water Sustainability Center after getting a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), another QF partner university, and is currently working towards her PhD in Switzerland. “The opportunity to work with ConocoPhillips Qatar was a unique educational experience, and it inspired me to work towards my PhD, as I realized that I wanted to continue working in this field and develop my skills further.”
“I learned a lot at ConocoPhillips Qatar, as I worked with a team of scientists and engineers with many years of experience and had the opportunity to lead projects and collaborate with different local universities, including within Qatar Foundation, such as TAMUQ and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.”
Dardor believes that encouraging creativity promotes innovation and leads to the development of new ideas. Speaking about how the fields of science and the arts intersect, she said: “Some people think they’re more science-oriented, others think they’re more arts-oriented, but if we all create and try to think innovatively – no matter our specialty – we will all be creatives in our own field.”
This year, the festival is inspired by the explorer Ibn Battuta, and is being held under the theme “Travel and Adventure.” Open to all, daily passes to the festival and all its shows are QR35 for children 3 to 11 years old and QR50 for those aged 12 and above, while children under three can enter for free.
Tickets are available on Virgin Megastore Tickets online. To find out more about the festival, visit www.qf.org.qa/dreesha.
