Visual Arts Forum India -Qatar (VAFI) has appointed six members as its new office-bearers following a meeting held recently.
VAFI is an organisation formed to provide a platform for artists of Indian origin in Qatar, "enabling them to flourish in many ways".
It functions under the aegis of the Indian embassy in Qatar, operating under the Indian Cultural Centre.
Dr Mohan Thomas is the chief patron.
The new executive committee will serve a two-year term (2022-2023), with the office-bearers working on a voluntary basis.
The members are Patric Rozario, president; Reena Badrinath, vice-president; Akanksha Jitendra, secretary-general; Santhu Govind, joint secretary; Shweta Singh, chief communication officer; and Richa Bahl, treasurer.
Rozario will be taking over from Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan, who served as president from 2016.
Rozario, like Dr Padmanabhan, is also a founding member and had served as the secretary-general from 2016.
The previous office-bearers were Dr Padmanabhan, president, Mahesh B P, vice-president, Rozario, secretary-general, Kavita Raghavan, joint secretary, and Smita Aloni and Kavita Murali, treasurers.
New members have been inducted into VAFI while the social media presence has been strengthened. This includes starting an Instagram page as well as having an updated Facebook page.
Plans are under way to organise art events such as workshops both for members and the public in Qatar. Discussions are also on to organise many events in conjunction with FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Artists, whether amateur or professions, living in Qatar have been urged to become members of VAFI. They can submit some of their works to the VAFI executive committee, which will evaluate their creations. If voted as a substantial creative work, they will be inducted as a member of VAFI after payment of an annual membership fee.
Working in collaboration with visual arts organisations from around the globe, and sharing knowledge from artists and art enthusiasts in Qatar, VAFI provides a platform that help member artists understand the emerging art market, focus on developing their art, and the way artists position themselves, a press statement notes.