Gulf Sees Arts Explosion (VIDEO)

The Gulf state of Qatar is preparing to welcome the Hollywood glitterati onto its shores, for the country's inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

The festival is just one of a host of projects in the country that are aimed at giving a boost to the arts.

But neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates are also working to increase their cultural capital by investing large amounts of money to bring famous names to their region.

Joanna Blundell reports on a rivalry that could transform the Gulf.

Check out more Al Jazeera English videos here.

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Comments

[bettyx1138]

03:05 AM on 10/31/2009

i wonder what all the middle-aged, black-wearing, NYC film hipsters will think of the restrictions on booze consumption there. :)

[EndangeredJackalope]

09:32 PM on 10/31/2009

They wont, b/c they aren't going to go there.

This news piece is about how gulf oil money is attracting western art dealers to the area. There's no art explosion, just art importation. It's no different than importing cars, computers, food, etc.

[BADRALDUJA]

02:19 AM on 10/31/2009

well i for one will be attending the islamic museaum in qatar tommorow evening for the reach out to asia charity..already some a list celebrities have arrived like cher

[bettyx1138]

03:05 AM on 10/31/2009

i'm so jealous. i wish i were there!

[Mollabaji]

09:06 AM on 10/31/2009

So? who cares if likes of Cher go there.

[thedirtman]

09:16 AM on 10/30/2009

It's much easier to go overseas and entertain. Entertainers coming to America find it difficult to get visas.

[Mollabaji]

09:11 AM on 10/30/2009

GULF? Where in hell is the GULF? Oh, it is Arab twist of facts and the Western media copying of it. Hey dummies, It is PERSIAN GULF. Persian gulf. PERSIAN GULF. Got it? Write it down so you won't forget it..

[UnknownSolider]

09:24 AM on 10/30/2009

exactly and Persians are not Arabs, even thou Arabs populate the Persian Gulf, it all gets very confusing.

[BADRALDUJA]

02:13 AM on 10/31/2009

How can it be the persian gulf,,when all the countries the majority on the gulf are arab countries,,and iran is the loner..?? you people amaze me

[Mollabaji]

09:04 AM on 10/31/2009

Your ignorance (and Arab bias) of historical facts amaze me.

[crossoverwriter]

09:07 AM on 10/30/2009

This is very cool.
ART not conflict.

[bettyx1138]

03:03 AM on 10/31/2009

agreed!

[EndangeredJackalope]

09:34 PM on 10/31/2009

It's lame. This isn't art, it's commerce. Art dealers are going to where oil money will buy their goods.

[TheyCalledMeSandN]

01:57 PM on 11/01/2009

as if the art scene in New York is not commerce. as if people don't go to art school so they can produce profitable art.. art IS commerce, it always has been, there is always a patron and an artist that works for them.

[ershad]

06:27 AM on 10/30/2009

as I know there is not any "g u l f" in the world
that is "persian gulf" dont try change the history

[UnknownSolider]

09:25 AM on 10/30/2009

Exactly just like its the African Ocean, not the Indian Ocean

[Val Valerian]

12:18 AM on 10/30/2009

So ... they're the ones with a lot of money with which to indulge themselves in their infantile fantasies of existential security. It's NOT really news, is it? Along with this artistic penchant goes a series of tyrannical countries run by patriarchal control freaks that hold many in bondage. So, who cares if they like paint on canvas?

[MarcusT]

02:11 AM on 10/30/2009

And by the way... Please don't take our general ignorance to heart and move oil off the dollar cause...um...PLEASE!

[BADRALDUJA]

02:15 AM on 10/31/2009

val valerian where were you ignorant people still living in stone age,,when the arabs where discovering and inventing things you cannot live without...??

[EndangeredJackalope]

09:43 PM on 10/31/2009

He's attacking the dictators that run countries in that part of the world (who suppress art and free expression, then ironically, invite western art dealers to bring "culture" to the region), not the arab or persian people.

Civilizations go through ups and downs in innovation. The arab world drove innovation, then feel apart, same with the greeks and romans, as well as different Chinese dynasties. Eventually the West rose, and now we're all merging into one.

The Arab and Persian states could be centers of artistic, technological and philosophical innovation, but they aren't because the creativity of their people is kept under the boot of their country's regimes. Rather than admit to the obvious frustration that other people see those populations suffering though and sympathize with, they feel ashamed and lash out. This is the trap that whole region is in, racism and pride.

[Khirad]

09:55 PM on 10/29/2009

Haha, "keepin' it desert" I like that. I also found it interesting that the Qatari's were using an Indian crew for their film (although I didn't quite understand if they were part of Qatar's huge South Asian population, or flown in). Maybe they can find an Arabic playback singer and slip in a dance sequence! ;-)

With all that money, it would be nice to have a film scene as vibrant as music is in the Arab world.

[JLennon4Life]

08:34 PM on 10/29/2009

Rare art is a great tool to launder money with.

[TJCole]

08:11 PM on 10/29/2009

Really was explosion the best choice of words...

How about Arabs almost Suicidal over Explosion Dubai new Mecca of the Expression of Martyrdom of Self in Art..

[EndangeredJackalope]

09:53 PM on 10/31/2009

How about, "Western Art Dealers See Explosion of Sales to Gulf Oil Producers" or "Gulf Oil Barons Find New Thing to Spend Their Fortunes On... Plus an Arab Rap Group" or better yet, "Gulf Stepping Up Imitation of the West By Importing Western Art Dealers and Not Jailing Homegrown Rappers"

this was a dumb story. Selling art somewhere doesn't = artistic "explosion." That's like saying Mexico underwent a "explosion of technological innovation" when Model T's were imported to Mexico City.

[WilliamL]

08:01 PM on 10/29/2009

Hopefully the trend will spread across the region and replace all the hateful violence and killing and behaeading.

The entire region wd do themselves and the rest of the region a favor if they broke out some candles, took a bath, smoked something, anything, weed, opium (seriously at this point can't hurt), break out some crayons, water colors, a big chief, have some wine, bourbon, beer, and just chill the f@#% out and quit worrying about what side of the road your neighbor worships. Make a video, do some theater, do a little dinner theater, whatever you like, its all Art and does not have to be good, the good thing is that some of you folks need to do something else besides the usual. Bunch of people from the same religion killing one another over what?

Please, pretty please?

Wishful thinking I know but anyway.......................................................................................................................

[Palaver]

06:23 PM on 10/29/2009

Why does everything in the Middle East have to "explode"?

[JScott]

05:53 PM on 10/29/2009

Yup get their publics interested in stuff that's just below controversial and all the associated shopping and materialism behind it and then they don't have them thinking about how opressive their governments are.

[alexa07]

05:41 PM on 10/29/2009

Qatar, Abu Dhabi & Dubai compete amongst themselves to encourage expression & enjoyment of the arts in their respective populations? That can't be anything but good unless, of course, one wants to fall back on the usual stereotypes about Arabs that are still prevalent in the media.

[jlevi]

04:41 PM on 10/29/2009

I'm confused, is this a news article or a paid advertisement?