Date
9–12 April 2014
Client
Qatar Museums & Katara Cultural Village
Attendees
40,000+ visitors
Location
Katara Cultural Village, Doha, Qatar
- about the project
The Challenge
Qatar Museums and Katara Cultural Village aimed to host an inaugural Turkish Festival that would authentically showcase Turkey’s culture, history, and contemporary arts. The challenge was to design a multi-day public festival that was both entertaining and educational, engaging tens of thousands of visitors in a way that highlighted the strong cultural bonds between Qatar and Turkey.
Our Approach
Together with our Doha-based sister company Hexagon WLL, we curated and executed a four-day festival that combined tradition, art, gastronomy, and performance:
- Created the overall creative concept and festival layout, integrating thematic zones for culture, crafts, food, and performance.
- Designed and built all festival areas, including the Traditional Turkish Bazaar, Traditional Tastes Area, Master’s Workshop, Children’s Corner, Contemporary Art Gallery, and the Palace Stage.
- Organized the participation of Turkish artists, craftsmen, chefs, and performers, handling all logistics including flights, accommodation, catering, and transfers.
- Curated a rich program of live performances including the State Mehteran Band, Konya Tasawwuf Ensemble, Istanbul Opera and Ballet Modern Dance Group, Turkish Folklore Dance Ensemble, and traditional shadow theatre (Karagöz & Hacivat).
- Delivered interactive workshops such as ebru (marbling), glass blowing, percussion, and Turkish cooking.
- Coordinated food and beverage activations, from Maraş ice cream to Turkish sweets, nuts, and pastries, all designed as live cultural experiences.
- Managed festival operations including crowd flow, guest hospitality, staffing, and technical production.
- Outcome
The Impact
The festival was a resounding success, attracting over 40,000 visitors in just four days and generating an estimated $350,000 worth of media coverage across Turkey and Qatar. Its success led to public demand for an extension, proving the concept’s strong resonance. The event created a living bridge between Turkish and Qatari culture, leaving a lasting impression and paving the way for future cultural collaborations.
Services Provided
- Festival concept development & creative design
- Venue branding, décor & installation
- Program curation: live shows, concerts & cultural performances
- Workshops & interactive experiences (art, crafts, cooking)
- F&B activations and cultural gastronomy stations
- Artist & talent management including travel & hospitality logistics
- Technical production: staging, sound, lighting & visuals
- Guest hospitality, staffing & operations management
- Media documentation & PR amplification