US foreign service officer William Stoltzfus presented his credentials to Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani as the first American ambassador to Qatar on March 19th, 1972.

Following his appointment, Ambassador Abdullah Saleh Al Mana presented his credentials to President Richard Nixon on July 21, 1972.  This year, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of this historical event.

In the 50 years that have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Qatar has been designated a major non-NATO ally. From its inception, Qatar has played a pivotal role in addressing various regional issues, both as a sovereign nation and in partnership with the United States. The 50 project is an initiative by the Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC) to commemorate this unique milestone.

In order to mark this historical moment, QAIC seeks to establish the Al Mana-Stoltzfus virtual gallery in honor of both Ambassador Al Mana and Ambassador Stoltzfus. In tandem with our curatorial efforts, QAIC seeks submissions of artwork by artists that they think best describe the nature and future of Qatar-US relations.