Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Arts Exhibition in Qatar

Following the first Arts and Disability Festival in Qatar in March 2013, the British Council worked with local partners (including Quatar Museums, Museum of Islamic Art, UCL Qatar, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, ORYX GTL, Quatar University, Al Noor Institute for the Blind, Moda, Supreme Education Council Qatar, and UNESCO Doha Office) to plan and deliver a regional conference to open up the subject of arts and disability and share best practice. This would eventually lead to a programme of work over a 2-3 year period.

The conference finally came to realisation in March 2015 through a major contribution from Sasol, an international and integrated energy and chemical company with a corporate responsibility for social change and creation of opportunities for disabled people.

The Definitely Able Conference & ILHAM Arts Exhibition brought key Qatari and regional partners in the field of inclusion and diversity together with the aim to challenge and change perceptions of disabled people through open discussion; share Qatar’s successes and challenges with other countries; compare local policies and services for disabled people with international best practice; encourage and inspire disabled people to reach their full potential; and develop an action plan for future initiatives to enhance prospects for disabled people.

British Council Qatar and Sasol won the prestigious Cannes Corporate TV & Media Award in the category of: Sponsoring, Non-Profit, Corporate Social Responsibility, for the film Voices (above) that was produced for the Definitely Able Conference & ILHAM Art Exhibition. 

Find out more on the British Council Qatar website.