We, Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy Emir of the State of Qatar,
Law No. 5 of 1970 identifying the powers of ministers and defining the functions and other government bodies, as amended;
Law No. 5 of 1998 on the dissolution of the Ministry of Information and Culture and the redistribution of its functions, in particular Article 3 thereof; and
The draft law submitted by the Council of Ministers;
Hereby promulgate the following Law:
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Articles Article 1
A council called the “National Council of Culture, Arts and Heritage” (hereinafter “the Council”) shall be established which shall have a legal personality and an independent budget attached to the State's general budget. |
Article 2
The Council shall be under the Council of Ministers and shall be located in Doha city. |
Article 3
The Council shall take care of the arts, culture and national heritage affairs, and it shall aim in particular at achieving the following:
- Developing the cultural heritage and developing and enriching the intellectual production.
- Providing the appropriate environment for the development of artistic and literary production and diversifying its sources.
- Maintaining the national heritage, deepening the scientific research thereon, and highlighting its characteristics.
- Encouraging fine arts, disseminating models thereof and working on developing them.
- Preserving the national heritage of heritage and monuments.
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Article 4
In order to achieve its objectives, the Council may conduct the following:
- Surveying the cultural, artistic, literary and heritage reality and collecting data on the efforts of various authorities with regard to its activities.
- Preparing the necessary studies for the advancement of culture, arts and literature, and maintaining the national heritage.
- Publishing books, dictionaries and indexes, and assembling documents and contributing to the dissemination of good innovated and translated intellectual production.
- Participating in cultural and artistic local, regional and international exhibitions, conferences and festivals.
- Expressing an opinion on draft agreements in which the State is a party and included in the framework of the Council's activity.
- Setting up quality standards in various aspects of intellectual production in the State, and developing the rules for competitions and estimate of subsidies, rewards and incentives for such production.
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Article 5
The Council shall be composed of a president, a vice-president and a number of members whose appointment and term of their membership shall be determined by an Emiri resolution. |
Article 6
The Council shall meet upon the invitation of the President once a month and whenever necessary. Meetings of the Council shall be valid if attended by a majority of its members, including the President or Vice- President. The Council's decisions and recommendations shall be issued by majority vote of those present. Where there is a deadlock, the President shall have a casting vote. The Vice-President shall take the place of the President in case of his absence or a vacancy in that office. |
Article 7
The Council may invite to attend its meeting any person whose assistance is deemed required, from amongst the government employees and other persons without their vote being counted. |
Article 8
The decisions of the Council shall be effective from the date of issue, except with regard to the acceptance of subsidies, grants, donations or bequests which they shall take effect from the date of adoption from the Council of Ministers. |
Article 9
The President of the Council shall represent the Council in its relations with third parties and before the judiciary |
Article 10
The Council shall have Secretary-General who shall be appointed by a resolution of the Prime Minister upon the proposal of the President of the Council. The Secretary-General may attend Council's meetings without having a counted vote. The Secretary-General shall supervise all administrative units of the Council and its activities, and also shall prepare the draft annual budget and final account. |
Article 11
The Council shall consist of the following administrative units:
- Department of Culture and Arts.
- Department of Public Libraries.
- Department of Museums and Antiquities.
- Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs.
The competencies of these departments shall be determined by a resolution of the Council of ministers upon the proposal of the Council. The Council of Ministers may, upon a proposal from the Council, amend the organisation of the administrative units comprising the Council by addition, cancellation and merging, and may assign or amend their competencies. |
Article 12
The Council shall set up the financial and administrative bylaws necessary for the organisation of its work and the exercise of its powers. These bylaws shall be issued by a decision of the President of the Council after getting the approval of the Council of Ministers. |
Article 13
The Council of Ministers may at any time request the Council to provide reports on aspects of its activities, and may issue general guidance to the Council on matters relating to the public interest or policy of the State. The Council shall comply with such guidance. |
Article 14
The Council shall submit an annual report to the Council of Ministers on the Council's activities including its proposals and recommendations. |
Article 15
Article 16
Each provision that violates the provisions of this Law shall be rescinded |
Article 17
All competent authorities, each within its own jurisdiction, shall enforce this Law which shall come into force from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette. |
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