Art Mill Museum conceptual design
In 2022, Qatar further cemented its position as a hub for arts and culture in the region, highlighting not only the heritage and tradition of this country but also the Middle East in general.
Qatar Museums over the years has added an “immersive experience” allowing visitors to engage themselves in the attractions and artifacts of the museums, providing a fresh narrative in this digital age.
The art and tradition are not just visible inside of a building or room; they are also evident in public places like streets, parks, airports, institutions of higher learning, and medical centres. This year alone, 40 newly created and commissioned public artworks have been installed throughout Doha, transforming spaces and connecting people.
Latest of these public artworks are Doha Mountains (2022) by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, on view along Doha’s Ras Abou Aboud beachfront near Stadium 974; The Doha Modern Playground (2022) by Shezad Dawood at Al Masrah Park; and ‘Dugong’, a polychromed mirror-polished stainless-steel sculpture made by renowned American artist Jeff Koons at the Corniche.
Another development is the opening of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, the first of its type in the Middle East, which joined the Qatar Museums family in March. The museum offers an unforgettable and inspiring interactive journey through the history and legacy of sports worldwide and the Olympic Games.
The nation’s reputation as a premier arts and culture destination in the region and globally has been reinforced through a series of cultural initiatives launched by Qatar Museums from July.
The programme started with the October re-opening of the completely reimagined and reinstalled Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I M Pei, a celebrated landmark in the heart of Doha. MIA presented its collection in completely new thematic interpretations to engage with audiences both local and international, and also included a new family trail.
A wide-range programme of exhibitions across eight museums and galleries in Doha is also happening until now to 2023/2024, including Baghdad: Eye’s Delight at the Museum of Islamic Art, Maison Valentino exhibition that pays homage to its founder at M7, exhibitions on the Art Mill Museum of international modern and contemporary art, and on the Lusail Museum, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, giving visitors their first glimpse of what they can expect from these two new art institutions now being developed by Qatar Museums.
Qatar Museums has also extended its collaboration all the way to New York. September this year, it collaborated with New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, encompassing the exchange of exhibitions, programmes, and scholarly cooperation.
In recognition of Qatar’s support, a gallery at The Met presenting art from the Umayyad and Abbasid Periods (7th–13th centuries) has been named the Qatar Gallery. As part of the collaboration between the institutions, Qatar Museums has lent works from its renowned collections to The Met for exhibitions.
In addition to introducing the general public to the world of arts, culture, and heritage, Qatar Museums also cultivates local, regional, and international talent through hosting creative projects like Al Najadah and the annual Fire Station Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme.
Al Najadah is a production-oriented and inclusive creative cluster hosting a multidisciplinary community of emerging and established creatives focused on Qatar’s burgeoning New Crafts: Contemporary Heritage, Culinary Arts and Digital Experiences. While AIR is an opportunity for artists residing in Qatar to develop their art practice and includes mentorship, working with curators, visiting critics, open studios, networking opportunities, and access to the building’s facilities, such as the woodshop and fabrication lab.
On to 2023, the Lusail Museum, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, will start construction early next year. It will be constructed at Lusail, the residence of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, the statesman, diplomat, and poet who founded Qatar. The upcoming museum will be a place of ideas, meetings and encounters, exchange and identity, said its Director Dr. Xavier Dectot.
And eight years from now, the Art Mill Museum will open its door and will house exceptional and international collections dating back from 1850 to present, bringing different cultures from all over the world. The museum will transform an industrial flour mill at the Old Doha Port along Corniche that currently houses the Qatar Flour Mills. Art Mill Museum Director Catherine Grenier said the museum will include multidisciplinary works from 19th century to present day and represents the culmination of a 25-year culture plan for the country.
