Gubgub Studios opens an artist-led platform in Qatar for cross-disciplinary creatives

Gubgub Studios is a self-funded, artist-run cooperative in Doha offering shared workspace; it opened in a former warehouse and runs workshops, performances and monthly film screenings.

Gubgub Studios is a self-funded, artist-run cooperative in Doha that provides shared workspace and programming for cross-disciplinary creatives. The group of 13 founding members secured a former warehouse in the city's industrial area and launched a program to coincide with Art Basel Qatar. The cooperative model is built on shared resources, mutual support and a desire for autonomy from larger institutional frameworks. Members say the space addresses high real estate costs and aims to support experimentation across media. Key details: - Gubgub is one of the first independent, artist-led platforms of its kind in Qatar and among the few similar initiatives in the Gulf. - The cooperative is self-funded, with some institutional support, and its founding members began seeking a space in 2022. - The studios occupy a former warehouse in Doha’s industrial area where members share costs, responsibilities and peer exchange. - Four core programs have been established: Gubgub Wrsha (workshop), Girgir (public discussion), Gubgub Gigs (sound and performance) and Gubgub Shasha (monthly film and video screenings), developed in part with the Lebanese cooperative AFLAMUNA. - The collective plans a residency strand called Gubgub Ghorfa launching next fall to pair local members with external practitioners, funded through grants and partnerships. Summary: Gubgub Studios offers a grassroots alternative within Qatar’s institution-heavy cultural scene by prioritizing affordable shared space and artist-led programming. The collective has established recurring programs and is preparing residency activity next fall as it builds regional partnerships and funding to sustain its independent model.