Chairperson of Qatar Museums, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and GU-Q Dean Safwan Masri at the session.
Doha: Chairperson of Qatar Museums, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, engaged students and graduates of QF partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) in a vibrant discussion about their vital role as key stakeholders in the continued growth and success of Qatar Museums through their rigorous research and study of politics, economics, history, and culture.
In a conversation moderated by Dean of GU-Q, Dr. Safwan Masri, and held in the university’s library, Sheikha Mayassa commended the dean for his efforts in integrating museums into the university’s curriculum, particularly highlighting a collaborative class with Qatar Museums titled “Theorizing Art in Qatar,” which took place at different museums in Qatar each week. Dean Masri noted: “Our students and alumni shared their ideas, research projects, and experiences about museums in Qatar and were inspired to further the cause of art, heritage, and cultural diplomacy as a central pillar of human development. We are so grateful for our strategic partnership with QM and H E Sheikha Al Mayassa’s ongoing support for our educational mission.”
Alumni and students shared their research projects about cultural diplomacy and art history, and were encouraged by Sheikha Mayassa to share their findings and participate in connecting the dots between cultural institutions, society, the private sector, and educational institutions in order to fully transform Qatar into a knowledge society.
Sheikha Mayassa also discussed the purpose and vision behind the evolution of Qatar’s museums, spanning three distinct phases over the past 25 years. She noted that the first phase focused on heritage and identity, with the establishment of the Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Qatar.
The second phase concentrated on social development, marked by the recent inauguration of the Sports Museum and the upcoming launch of the DADU Children’s Museum. Finally, the third and final phase will highlight global outreach, featuring the Lusail Museum, the Qatar Auto Museum, and other institutions.
In her final words, she encouraged students to think of museums as hubs of learning not just about Qatar, but the world and its interconnections through art, artifacts, and the human experiences they invoke.
