Doha: The Visual Arts Center of the Ministry of Culture is participating in the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) with an interactive educational and recreational activity for children.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event, held under the motto 'The Journey of Writing: From Engraving to Writing', aims to explore the evolution of writing in the Arab world, from its early symbolic origins to its modern forms. The center's participation aligns with the theme, as it has designed six interactive zones at the Children Oasis, showcasing the stages of writing evolution throughout history by combining visual arts with advanced pedagogical technologies, explained Huda Al Yafei, the Director of the Center.
Al Yafei emphasized that the center is dedicated to fostering children's creative sensibility and promoting the arts as an interactive cultural tool within an environment that encourages erudition. This initiative aligns with the Ministry's vision of cultivating a culture of reading and writing among future generations.
The first zone at DIBF, 'Engravings', introduces children to the origins of writing through pictographic symbols used by early humans on cave walls. Al Yafei noted that children will learn about the progression of these symbols into the Phoenician alphabet, the Musnad script, and eventually Arabic. The zone includes two interactive workshops, 'Engraving' and 'Letters Through Time', where children can engage in clay carving and experiment with inscribing their names using ancient letter forms.
The second zone, 'Scripts', focuses on the evolution of Arabic calligraphy post-Islam, offering workshops in Naskh, Kufi, and Diwani styles using traditional reed pens. Another workshop, 'Design Your Cover', invites children to create book covers that reflect their artistic imagination. The third zone, 'Printing', highlights the transition from handwriting to modern printing, featuring workshops such as 'Express and Print' for shirt printing, 'Young Author', and 'Letterforms in Art', Al Yafei explained.
The fourth zone, 'Communication', blends writing with technology, offering workshops like 'Braille Language' and 'My Hands Speak', which introduce children to sign language. Additionally, 'Create Your Story with AI' allows children to craft their narratives using artificial intelligence tools.
The fifth zone, 'Create and Learn', emphasizes personal creativity through workshops such as 'A Story Told with Stickers', 'Craft Your Bookmark', and 'Color Your Tools', aiming to foster artistic expression and deepen children's interest in reading and writing.
Lastly, the interactive theater at DIBF will host daily performances and theatrical storytelling, complemented by recreational activities to ensure children enjoy events that combine knowledge with play.