Top five museums in Qatar
- 3 years ago
1. The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
.jpg)
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) gives voice to the unique story of Qatar and its people from earliest times to the present day and onwards towards its future.
Designed to be both immersive and experiential, visitors can expect to encounter a rich environment to explore. Organised in three “chapters” — Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and The Modern History of Qatar, each theme is presented across eleven highly individual galleries.
Spread over 1.5km, visitors journey through an exciting mix of all-encompassing environments and compelling storytelling that will engage all the senses.
2. MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART (MIA)
The sole purpose of MIA as an organisation is to be a cultural instigator for the creation generation. This is an ambition that MIA strives to deliver together as a group of museums and heritage sites to help fulfill the cultural goals of the 2030 Qatar National Vision. The MIA brand purpose also aligns with our organisational vision – to develop, promote and sustain the cultural sector at the highest standards.
At the heart of this is a commitment to helping Qatar originate art, culture and heritage experiences from within. This enables MIA to have an extraordinary impact on the world and have the rest of the world understand us in return. MIA plans to create and support the next generation of cultural audiences and generate a national spirit of participation that will inspire audiences and producers of the future.
According to H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa, QM Chairperson, “ We are changing our culture from within, but the same time we are reconnecting with our traditions. It is important for us to grow organically”
3. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, founded in 2010, is situated in Education City in Qatar Foundation (QF), in a renovated former school building. QF is led by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and is a part of Qatar Museums, led by H.E. Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Mathaf Collection, co-owned by Qatar Museums and Qatar Foundation, is now holds over 9,000 works, making it the world’s largest specialised collection of its kind. An initial group of works was gathered by H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani.
Mathaf organises major exhibitions, both historical and experimental, and large-scale education programs performing an important role as a centre for dialogue, research, and a resource for fostering creativity. Mathaf hosts solo and group exhibitions by artists from the region, and events that explore and celebrate modern and contemporary art.
The development of the museum continued as an inspiring space for dialogue and scholarship about modern and contemporary art with artists in residency in Doha, and also as a place for art production and display. Today Mathaf is focusing on showing the permanent collection and producing major shows.
4. Fire Station: Artist in Residence
The Fire Station is a contemporary art space committed to supporting artists through its artist in residence program as well as engaging the local communities in Qatar by providing opportunities and events, which include exhibitions and public programs.Built in 1982, the Fire Station was previously the home of the first Civil Defense Authority in Qatar, until late 2012. Re-purposed in 2014 to host the Fire Station: Artist in Residence, Ibrahim Al-Jaidah - the architect leading the project has preserved the original details of the building and its tower. The Annex and extended building were additions to the original structure.
The Fire Station provides facilities, production support, mentorships, and curatorial support. Residents are selected through an Open Call application process, after which an esteemed jury convenes to make a final selection of up to 20 artists. The original fire station was built in 1982 as the civil defense and was occupied by the fire brigade, serving the community for over thirty years until the last fire engine evacuated the place in December of 2012. After that it was handed over to Qatar Museums to be repurposed for contemporary use. The Fire Station: Artist in Residence was created.
5. The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum as we know today is the result of the enduring passion of a man to preserve and spread cultures of the world alongside his own. Sheikh Faisal's enthusiasm for collecting initially manifested itself as a private collection in his majlis (Arab gathering space). Envisaged by Sheikh Faisal who sought to preserve elements of cultural heritage and ultimately share them with the public but his rapidly growing collection soon became too large to be housed in a private setting
and a purpose-built building was sought to preserve and display the extraordinary collection, the museum design is particularly dedicated to upholding and promoting Islamic heritage.
Thus the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum was founded in 1998 as a non-profit museum foundation of public interest, in a grand fort at Al Samriya Farm with a breath-taking exterior. Built of local stone with traditional turrets, the building is in itself a collector's piece in contrast with Qatar’s developing landscape. In 2010, the museum was selected by the Ministry of Art, Culture and Heritage as one of Qatar's cultural landmarks as part of the 'Qatar Capital of Culture' activities.
Comments