- "The collaboration will benefit the artists from Qatar and around the region, who wish to participate in the Florence Biennale and at the same time will benefit the global artist to take part in QIAF 2021"
 

Artists and art galleries have fast been adapting to the new phenomenon caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic world over. It has been harder for the exhibitors, visitors and collectors to get together at one place since the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Nonetheless, creative minds and art lovers have speedily been getting accustomed to the new normal and are finding new ways to work together using digital and social media platforms. Since physical gatherings have been reduced around the world, art companies and galleries are leaning more towards collaborations and supporting each other for online international art festivities.
Qatar is no exception to it. The art scenes in Qatar have been as vibrant as anywhere else in the world. Being home to expatriates from almost all corners of the world, Qatar is the stage where a large variety of art and culture are presented. Qatar International Art Festival (QIAF) is one such fest that has been arranging a bouquet of diverse artists and art activities every year since 2018.
To add more colour and flavour for the art lovers, QIAF recently announced that it has joined hands with Florence Biennale, the largest contemporary art and design event in Florence, Italy. QIAF is annually organised by MAPS, a Qatari company for artists, painters, practitioners and educators in Qatar and globally.
Rashmi Agarwal, founder and president of MAPS International WLL., said: “The growing influence of QIAF in the global art fraternity and its regional significance as an international art festival led to the idea of the collaboration between QIAF and the Florence Biennale after a number of discussions between the two sides. Both the groups decided to establish a long-term partnership agreement between the festivals for the mutual benefit of respective fests and to create a synergy with each other.”
In a statement, shared at its website, the Florence Biennale said: “We are glad to announce that the Biennale has established a partnership with Qatar International Art Festival, which enables the participating artists of the XIII Florence Biennale 2021 to participate in the largest art festival of Qatar at special conditions. The festival offers other benefits to participants, including promotion of their work, interaction with print, electronic, digital, and social media, interaction with selected art collectors, art investors and potential buyers.”
Agarwal further said: “The collaboration will benefit the artists from Qatar and around the region, who wish to participate in the Florence Biennale and at the same time will benefit the global artist to take part in QIAF 2021. It is like a win-win situation for all the stakeholders including QIAF, the Florence Biennale and the participating artists. The intending artists wishing to participate in the festivals can contact the respective organisers for more details.”
Speaking about her art festival, Agarwal said: “QIAF is the distinctive art event in the region that connects the artists worldwide. In tandem with other programmes, it is extremely important to bring global art experts, connoisseurs, art critics and art academicians in the region together on the shared platform. It provides a global stage for local and international artists. It offers an amazing experience to meet people from different parts of the world. QIAF also provides an opportunity for the participants to learn about new space, network, meet art experts and influencers one-on-one, sharpen art skills, and explore new ways of creativity.”
Sharing details about the Florence Biennale, she said: “Founded in 1997 by the artist Pasquale Celona with his brother Piero, and today directed by Jacopo Celona, the Biennale is the largest contemporary art and design event in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance and the city of art par excellence. In the days of the Biennale, Florence is transformed into a showcase of excellence for contemporary artistic production on a global level, thanks to the participation of hundreds of artists from all over the world and thousands of enthusiasts, also attracted by the rich programme of collateral events such as conferences, performance and educational initiatives, which focus attention on the theme of the current edition. The Biennale thus offers exhibitors and visitors a great opportunity to meet and dialogue on various aspects of art and culture.”
 
 
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