Famous Qatari artist, Amal Al Athm, presented American University of Sharjah (AUS) with a beautiful painting, worth AED 150,000, entitled "self-dialogue." The initiative came during the artist's visit to AUS.

The painting, which will be added to the AUS collection, was received during a meeting with Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, the AUS Acting Chancellor and Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs.

Dr. Hochstettler said, "This painting enriches the big collection of the university which aims at enhancing the status of art and artists in the university. This initiative comes within the framework of the strategic plan for the university to promote cooperation and continuous interaction between the university and the community."

Dr. Mourtada-Sabbah thanked the Qatari artist for her initiative. She said, "The university is keen in developing the theoretical and practical experiences of students and alumni, including appreciation of arts and enhancing their cultural and artistic awareness through their contacts with the specialists in the fields, including pioneering artists in the country and the Gulf."

Al Athm, a leading Qatari artist, thanked the university for its continued quest to link with the community in constructive cooperation, stressing the importance for students and alumni to interact with the leading artists in the Gulf.

Al Athm's paintings have been displayed in different parts of the world including Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Italy, Cairo, UAE, Japan, the United States, China, Morocco and other countries. A member of the Qatar Society of Fine Arts, Al Athm won the first prize of the Young Art Exhibition and was the president of the Center for the Visual Arts of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.