Doha, Qatar – 2 November 2021 – Qatar National Library is proud to present Arabic Calligraphy Week between 6 and 11 November 2021. The week will showcase the art of calligraphy, bringing out the beauty and history of the written word through events that celebrate artistic Arabic calligraphy, artificial intelligence in art, local culture and heritage, and the Library’s resources on Arabic calligraphy.
On 6 November, 50 local calligraphers will be invited to submit photographs of their Arabic calligraphy work. Of these, 30 participants will be invited to a competition at the Library that will include writing a specific phrase using different kinds of Arabic calligraphy with one winner being awarded.
On 7 November, the Library, in cooperation with the Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Science and Engineering, will welcome Dr. James She to deliver a talk on the latest developments of artificial intelligence technologies and how these can be applied in the arts, particularly in the field of Arabic calligraphy.
One of the most important sessions during the week is the “Get to Know the Library’s Resources on Arabic Calligraphy” workshop on 11 November. Librarians will guide participants to find Arabic calligraphy resources at the Library and highlight some of the books related to this beautiful art.
On the occasion of Arabic Calligraphy Week, Ahmad Naddaf, Information Services Librarian said, “The Library is committed to preserving and conserving Arab heritage for future generations, and the calligraphic art form holds a special place in our hearts. It is one of the most highly regarded and fundamental aspects of Islamic art. We are honored to showcase and support it, and we strongly believe in promoting the art form and raising awareness of the impact modern technologies like artificial intelligence have on it. We are excited to host Arabic Calligraphy Week and look forward to a series of engaging and interactive sessions.”
Arabic Calligraphy Week will conclude with an online panel discussion on 11 November. “Artificial Intelligence for Art, Culture and Heritage” will outline the impact of artificial intelligence on the modern world through artistic work. Participants will showcase some of their recent AI works from around the world and discuss their cultural and societal implications, while also focusing on legal and ethical aspects. Moderated by Stephane Ipert, the Library’s Director of Distinctive Collections, the panel will include speakers Dr. James She, Associate Professor, the Division of Information and Computing Technology at the College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Dr. Ahmed Elgammal, professor at the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University; and Sydney Chiche-Attali, an intellectual property and art lawyer in Paris.
To register for the sessions related to Arabic Calligraphy Week and all the Library’s other exciting events, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (www.qnl.qa/en/events).
