Everything you need to know about Qatar’s leading photography biennial
What is Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar
Tasweer is Qatar’s national photography biennial, developed by Qatar Museums to support photographers and image makers in Qatar and the wider Western Asia and North Africa region, often shortened as WANA. It is designed as both a public festival and a professional development platform, combining exhibitions with talks, workshops, commissions, collaborations, and awards.
Unlike a single venue photo fair, Tasweer works like a city wide programme. It connects multiple institutions and exhibition spaces, and uses photography as a lens to talk about culture, identity, memory, and contemporary life in the region.
Who is behind it
Tasweer is established by Qatar Museums under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and is supported by the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam).
When does it happen
Tasweer runs as a biennial programme. The Tasweer website describes the 2021 edition as the first biennial programme and the 2023 edition as the second.
For the third edition in 2025, Tasweer announced April 20 as the opening date.
What to expect at the festival
Tasweer’s programming typically includes:
Curated exhibitions across multiple venues
For the 2025 edition, Qatar Museums describes the festival as a curated programme celebrating diverse photographic practices in the region. Media coverage around the opening highlights a main installation at Fire Station and a wider set of exhibitions spread across several venues.
A practical example is the community exhibition “Garangao 2025,” presented as part of the third edition programme and framed around memory, belonging, and resilience.
Talks, workshops, and public programming
Tasweer positions itself not only as an exhibition programme, but also as a platform for learning and growth through presentations and workshops.
A clear focus on regional voices
Tasweer explicitly focuses on photographers and photographic communities in Qatar and across WANA, which makes it especially relevant for emerging and mid career photographers who want visibility inside the GCC region without being forced into a purely commercial, gallery only route.
Awards and open calls
One of the most useful aspects for readers who are photographers is that Tasweer is not just something to visit. It is also something you can enter.
Tasweer Project Award
Tasweer’s Project Award provides a grant of 30,000 QAR per awardee to support the development or completion of a photographic project, with opportunities connected to the festival programme.
Tasweer Single Image Award
Tasweer’s Single Image Award focuses on strong storytelling through one image, with a cash prize described as 2,000 QAR for awardees, plus opportunities to present through Tasweer programming.
Tip for artists and photographers: even if you do not win, open calls are often the most efficient way to get your work reviewed by a serious regional platform. Build your submission like a mini editorial, with a clear concept, consistent sequencing, and a short statement that explains what the viewer should notice.
Why Tasweer matters for Qatar and the GCC photo scene
Tasweer is part of a wider cultural strategy: building local creative industries, nurturing talent, and giving photography a dedicated platform that is not secondary to painting or sculpture programming. Qatar Museums explicitly frames Tasweer as supporting artistic talent and the arts economy.
In practical terms, that means Tasweer creates three kinds of value at once:
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Public visibility: exhibitions and festival attention that go beyond your Instagram reach
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Professional validation: a Qatar Museums backed framework that signals credibility
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Network access: curators, educators, and institutions that can lead to residencies and future exhibitions
Planning your visit
Because Tasweer programmes can be split across venues, plan your visit like a route, not like a single stop.
A simple approach:
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Start with the festival hub style exhibition, often anchored at Fire Station, then move outward to the partner venues listed in the festival programme.
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Check the calendar pages on Tasweer for specific exhibitions and dates, since different shows can run on slightly different timelines.
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Leave time for a talk or workshop if you want more than just viewing. Tasweer is built for learning as much as it is for looking.
How to use Tasweer strategically if you are a photographer
If your goal is career growth in Qatar or the GCC, treat Tasweer as a positioning opportunity.
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If you are emerging: focus on the Single Image Award to get noticed, then build a longer project for the next cycle.
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If you are mid career: target the Project Award with a clear narrative arc and production plan, because the grant is meant to move projects forward, not just reward a finished portfolio.
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If you are international but regionally connected: frame your work through WANA context and relevance, not generic travel photography. Tasweer’s mission is regional dialogue and community growth.
My quick take
Tasweer is one of the most important photo platforms in the GCC because it combines institutional backing, public visibility, and real support mechanisms like grants and open calls. For photographers who want meaningful exposure in the region, it is a much stronger step than pay to play exhibitions, and it can become a bridge into residencies, museum networks, and curated opportunities.
The Art Fair Guy Consultancy
If you are a photographer and want to enter the GCC market with a smart strategy, I can help you choose the right festivals and open calls, tighten your portfolio and artist statement, and build a realistic exhibition path in the region through The Art Fair Guy consultancy.
FAQ
Is Tasweer a photo fair or a festival
It is a biennial photo festival programme, built around exhibitions, public programming, and awards, rather than a booth based commercial fair.
Who is Tasweer for
Visitors who want to explore photography, and photographers who want professional development and visibility in Qatar and the WANA region.
Can I apply as a photographer
Yes. Tasweer runs open calls including a Project Award and a Single Image Award, with cash prizes and exhibition opportunities described by Tasweer.
