GAAQ wins Zeeenah Initiative prize

GEMS American Academy Qatar (GAAQ) won the 'Coeducational Schools' category of the Zeeenah Initiative, launched by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, in collaboration with various ministries, to beautify public places and buildings for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.GAAQ had submitted an art and decoration plan at the beginning of the school year, showcasing the talents of their students and teachers by creating art pieces inspired by all 32 participating countries of the World Cup, a statement said yesterday.The award has come with a cash prize of QR40,000, which would be used to develop a dedicated pottery and ceramics room, integrated into the curriculum to boost creativity, problem-solving skills, and sensory development among students.The Zeeenah Initiative was a collaborative effort between the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Ministry of Municipality, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture, Qatar Museums, and Central Municipal Council.The initiative aimed to beautify and decorate the facades of workplaces, schools, universities, and real estate in Qatar for the World Cup.Maryam al-Muhamadi, a fourth-grade Qatari student, shared her experience of creating artwork that commemorated the country of Tunisia."It was an extraordinary experience! I learned a lot about Tunisia, and it was exciting to try something new and different. Usually, when I make art, I have a plan in mind, and I stick to it, but this time it was different. We were able to work on different pieces and express our creativity in unique ways, and it all came together to create something beautiful and meaningful."By trying something new, I was able to broaden my perspective and gain a deeper understanding of a foreign culture, all while expressing myself artistically.”The school's leadership, art and music teachers, and marketing team worked with students on various World-Cup inspired art pieces and installations.The Pre-K to Grade 5 (Elementary) students and teachers created artworks on the 32 World Cup countries by identifying a favourite artist from each country, cultivating original artwork centred around each artist's design style, as well as incorporating elements of Qatar's heritage and culture in these pieces.Teachers and students in Grades 6 – 12 (Upper School) created individual black-and-white sketch portraits of the event as well as a 3-step mural of players from each country running through the desert towards the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium.They developed two additional murals: one depicting Qatar's 2022 Vision in reflection of its past until now and the other showcasing a life-sized map of Qatar, flags of participating countries, and its eight stadiums.GAAQ's art and music teachers, Angelique Kuyper, Adam Merrick, Casey Riley, Martin Farragher, Agna Bednarczyk, and Laura le Roux had spearheaded the work behind the initiative.