Doha, Qatar: The organising committee of the Qatar International Arabic Calligraphy Competition “Al-Raqim” has launched training workshops on Arabic calligraphy targeting secondary school students, with seventy students participating from Al-Wakrah Secondary School and Omar Bin Al-Khattab Secondary School.
The workshops aim to enhance students’ knowledge of Arabic calligraphy and discover emerging talents in the field, particularly as Arabic calligraphy represents the identity of the Islamic nation and its presence in the realm of visual arts.
The competition is held through an active partnership between the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, and Qatar Museums, represented by the Museum of Islamic Art, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to help instil educational values among young people.
Students actively engaged in the workshops, receiving training in writing the phrase “Qatar Will Remain Free” in Ruq’ah script. They demonstrated strong enthusiasm and passion for learning about Arabic calligraphy, explored different calligraphy styles and their uses, and posed questions on the topic, expressing their admiration for the various artistic aspects they were introduced to.
Dr. Saleh Al-Marri, Director of the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Qatar International Arabic Calligraphy Competition “Al-Raqim”, stressed that these workshops reflect the committee’s commitment to engaging with the local community and reaching different segments of society, especially the youth, to introduce them to Arabic calligraphy.
He emphasised that the competition aims to instil sound educational values and foster young people’s interest in Islamic visual arts, which embody the identity and heritage of the nation.
