Sultan Al-Qassemi | Bridging Cultures Through Arab Art and Architecture

In this afikra podcast episode we chat with Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, a distinguished columnist and influential cultural figure from the United Arab Emirates, whose insightful writings have appeared in The Financial Times, The Independent, The Guardian, and numerous other prestigious publications. As the visionary founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sultan has played a pivotal role in enhancing the intellectual and cultural landscape of the Arab region through the establishment of an extensive and publicly accessible art collection in the UAE. Discover Sultan's journey through art and architecture, his motivations, and how he leverages social media and cultural diplomacy to showcase Arab art on a global stage.

0:00 Introduction
4:05 Discovering a Passion for Art and the First Purchase
6:22 Motivations Behind Collecting Art
8:33 Utilizing Art to Reshape Cultural and Societal Perceptions
10:17 The Mission and Achievements of Barjeel Art Foundation
12:18 Promoting Arab Art Through Cultural Diplomacy
16:37 Sultan’s Strategic Use of Social Media for Cultural Engagement
20:31 Fascination with Architecture and Its Cultural Implications
25:09 The Allure of Modernism in Art and Architecture
27:51 The Importance of Documenting Urban and National Histories
29:44 Fostering Pride in Arab World Achievements
32:31 Sultan’s Book Recommendations for Cultural Enthusiasts
34:56 Bridging Cultural Divides and Overcoming Regional Tensions
39:15 Audience Q&A: Language Barriers and Cultural Accessibility
42:52 Audience Q&A: The Impact of the Internet on Documenting Art
44:49 Audience Q&A: Challenges of Documenting Art in the Digital Age
47:20 Audience Q&A: Inclusivity and Representation of LGBTQ+ Artists
48:26 Upcoming Projects from Barjeel Art Foundation and Where to Find Publications

Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi is a UAE-based columnist, researcher, and the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation. His articles have been featured in major publications globally, including The Financial Times and The Guardian. Through the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sultan has significantly contributed to the art scene in the Arab region, making it accessible and influential both locally and internationally. His work spans cultural diplomacy, social media engagement, and fostering a deeper understanding of Arab art and architecture.

Connect with Sultan 👉   / sultanalqassemi  

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉   / mikey_mu  
Rami Abou-Khalil 👉   / rami_ak  

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast...
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1...
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014...

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series:    • 🎙️ The afikra Podcast  

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram:   / afikra_  
🔗 Facebook:   / afikra.official  
🔗 Twitter:   / afikra  

#SultanSooudAlQassemi #BarjeelArtFoundation #ArabArt #CulturalDiplomacy #ModernArchitecture #ArtCollecting #SocialMediaInfluence #CulturalHeritage #MiddleEasternArt #ArtHistory #CulturalDialogue #afikra #conversations #SultanalQassemi