The Story
Hobby House Qatar is a project founded in 2016. It is quite simply a product of my own search and frustration to find a one-stop shop that teaches new artistic skills and enhances existing ones. I have been an expat in Qatar for the past 13 years however was unable to find an art concept that houses and promotes local talent.
As a mother of 2 kids I found it extremely hard to dedicate extended periods of my time to long-term courses that are currently available in the country. I needed my ‘ME’ time but without too much hassle and commitment. When my search for short courses was futile I landed up scouting and hosting artists within my home. I purely wanted to explore varied art forms, meet new people and build an artistic community.
The drive behind HHQ is one that stems from a strong belief that our adult minds need ways to relax, unwind and rejuvenate. It is an absolute must in order for us to function at our optimal level. For this, some sort of foreign stimulation is required and exploring an ART form is one of the best ways to do so.
In my own experience as young girl my mother always inculcated in us the habit to take time to do what we loved. Not always with the hope to excel at it but to have a way to vent out and release our daily stress. It could be anything from painting to recycling old cards to pottery to cross stitch, just any art form under the sun. It wasn’t so much the art itself but the act of trying something new, learning and developing a part of the brain that affected our overall personality, moral, self-esteem and mental wellbeing. It was also a great way for us to meet other young adults and like-minded people that helped push our creative boundaries, eventually leading up to a better self.
With this basic idea in mind I decided to take matters in my own hands and with the help of our talented mentors started to build an art loving community. Thus Hobby House Qatar was born.