Qatar sponsors varied cultural events through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and heritage which organizes cultural events like festivals, seminars, lectures, arts exhibitions, books exhibitions, workshops and training in cultural, arts and heritage domain. It also organizes similar events abroad through its administ.

Culture and Arts
The Department of Culture and Arts sponsors the cultural and artistic movement in the state, organizing Qatari cultural and artistic weeks and events abroad, receiving foreign cultural and artistic weeks and events and organizing lectures, symposia and poetic nights.
The department also administers the cultural saloon, supports artistic works and provides means of developing them, licenses the establishment of folkloric, theatric and musical troupes and supervising Qatar National Theatre.
This department issued a number of books in addition to its role in sponsoring theatre, folklore, weeks and cultural activities in a number of countries such as Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India, China and other countries.

The Cultural Neighborhood Establishment
It is a legal body with independent budget and aims to use buildings and utilities of the Cultural Neighborhood Establishment for contribution in the cultural progress and encouraging talents. It is responsible of making the neighborhood a place and an environment in which elites and talents can meet in addition to proposing policies, plans and programs for contribution in spreading cultural awareness through organizing festivals, symposia and other cultural activities in the Cultural Neighborhood in coordination with the concerned departments.

Cultural Researches and Studies
This section is concerned with carrying out cultural researches and studies, translation of distinguished and selected literal and intellectual works from other languages into Arabic language and vice versa. Issuing books of Qatari and Arab authors in different intellectual, literal and cultural fields in addition to the issuance of Doha Magazine and other specialized periodicals that may be issued in future in different aspects of culture.

Public Libraries
The department is concerned with establishing public libraries, supervising and developing them in addition to participation in local and international fairs, conferences and symposia focused on libraries. The department is also concerned with gathering Qatari heritage, classifying, maintaining them and issuing a national bibliography in addition to providing various necessary information sources for providing informational and bibliographical services for researchers, elites and organizations.
Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariyya is one of the oldest national libraries in the Gulf and the Arab world and one of the most outstanding cultural landmarks in Doha. It was established on the 29th of December 1962 by a decision from HE the Minister of Ma'arif (Education) merging the Public Library and the library of the Ministry of Ma'arif into one body, which was put under the direct authority of the Minister of Ma'arif and given an independent budget. The new body, now called the National Library, is now part of the Department of Public Libraries at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage.
The library gets publications in various forms such as dictionary, encyclopedia, map, manuscript, disc, and microfiche besides books.
Documentation and Microfilm Section prepares and builds up microfilm inventory in line with latest technological advances. The facility has a restoration laboratory since 1976, and there is a binding unit where books, newspapers and periodicals are treated with modern binding equipment.
To facilitate the work of researchers and give better chances for the youths to use the Internet for nominal fares, an Internet center was opened at the library, which receives visitors two times a day.


Branch Libraries
1- Al Khor Public Library, established on 22/6/1977.
2- Al Shamal Public Library, established on 22/10/1979.
3- Al Khansa Library (for women), established on 26/10/1981.
4- Al Rayyan Public Library, established on 10/4/1982.
5- Al Wakrah Public Library, established on 1/1/1985.

Department of Publications and Issuance
This department takes possession of copyright and trade names of radio materials it produces or uses and giving others the right for their utilization. It studies and issues necessary licenses for the issuance of press publications, printing presses, publishing houses, libraries, establishments importing, exporting and distributing publications, advertisements , public relations and artistic production establishments, establishments selling and distributing artistic materials in addition to monitoring local and international artistic materials in accordance with laws and approving the issuance of publications and newsletters by diplomatic missions and consulates accredited in the state in coordination with the concerned administrative units. The department issues books and publications consisting introductory items about the state in various fields and sending them to diplomatic missions in coordination with the concerned departments.

Communications Department
Is responsible of studying and deciding on application for establishing and possessing radio and TV stations and monitoring their broadcasting materials.

Heritage Department
Is concerned with preservation the Arab and Moslem Qatari heritage, gathering and documenting, studying and propagation of folklore for introducing and making it available for researchers, in addition to establishment of folklore archive, organizing national hereditary events, supporting workers in this field and organizing symposia, conferences and meetings related to folklore.

Qatar Museums Authority
Qatar Museums Authority established in 2005 in Doha city, Qatar Museums Authority is a public body with a legal personality and a budget annexed to the state budget. It aims to upgrade the museums and archeology sector as well as archeological excavation projects. This includes managing, supervising and developing them; and compiling, recording and protecting the archeological remains and preparing them for public use and preserving the archeological discoveries and the acquisitions of museums.

The authority is in charge with the following tasks:
1- Drawing out the general policy of museums and archeology organizations and supervising the implementation thereof.
2- Endorsing the development, upgrading, restoration and maintenance of museums and their acquisitions.
3- Outlining the bases for accrediting the museums and their work systems.
4- Establishing the museums.
5- Drawing out and endorsing the scientific systems and bases of archeological excavations; compiling, recording and preserving the archeological remains and the acquisitions of the museums throughout the phases of recording, transporting, storing, displaying or using them.
6-Coordinating between the museums and concerned establishments.
7- Discharging the duties related to archeology affairs.
8- Participating in the related regional and international exhibitions and conferences.
9- Proposing law bills and regulations dealing with the museums and archeology and giving specialized counsel in the matters relating to them.

The authority is in charge of all the museums that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Museums and Archeology at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, besides any museum accredited or established by a decision from the council of trustees.

Plastic Arts in Qatar
Plastic arts movement in the State of Qatar has been influenced by the country's socioeconomic environment as well as a number of factors and developments in the local arena. Trials of the plastic arts in the 1970s brought about new variations due to more openness towards cultural resources and easy communication with arts enthusiasts.
With more requirement for support, the Ministry of Information was established to take up the role of sponsoring arts sector in the 1970s, just as attention started to grow towards arts and towards more participation in cultural events staged in the Arab world, Europe or Asia.
In 1980, Qatar Plastic Arts Society was accredited as representative of Qatar's private arts sector with a responsibility to support the role played by the Ministry of Information in extending artistic and cultural services.

The Theatre in Qatar
Qatar has known the theater since the 1950s through the activities of clubs. In the 1960s the popular theatrical troupe was formed, but the real beginning of the theatrical movement was started early in the 1970s with the establishment in 1972 of Qatar Theater Troupe, the first of its kind in the country.
Culture and Arts Department supports every theatrical work presented by private theatrical troupes, secures free of charge all kinds of artistic and technical services and potential and allows commercial marketing of works after airing them first on Qatar TV.
Culture and Arts Department hosts Arab theater scholars, who impart their expertise to Qataris through lectures and training courses, sends trainees to attend courses abroad and encourages artists who wish to have academic studies on theater.
Qatar National Theater hosts touring theatrical troupes to perform in Qatar. Al Ahli theatrical troupe is considered to be the nucleus of the national theatrical movement and its members, who are elected from other private troupes, are chosen to participate in Arab festivals held abroad. Theatrical troupes in the county mark the International Theater Day, which falls on the 27th of March of each year.

The two State Encouragement and Appreciation Awards for Science, Arts and Literature
These two awards has been established according to law No (11) of 2003 which stipulates awarding the State Appreciation Award to scientists, scholars and innovators in recognition and appreciation of their scientific and innovative achievements. The state Encouragement Award is awarded to distinguished and promising researchers and innovators. The Ministry of Culture and Arts supervises these awards.
The first round of the State Encouragement Award activities took off in 2005 in the fields of Islamic studies, social studies, economics, pure and applied science, arts and literature.