The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) will serve as a hub of learning for residents and students, as well as visitors and professionals at other museums, focusing on the country’s rich history and heritage.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday, NMoQ director Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz al-Thani said the museum’s programmes will include guided tours, student activities, living history and storytelling sessions, and in-service training for teachers, among others.
“Central to the vision of the museum is intergenerational learning for schoolchildren, adults, and for all, through our multi-layered thematic exhibits, interactivity and programming,” she noted.
“At the core of the museum’s permanent exhibits and accessible to the public is a digital archive of thousands of images, videos, and documents from Qatar and abroad. All these elements will be made accessible to as many people as possible,” Sheikha Amna stressed.
The event was attended by NMoQ representatives and senior Qatar Museums (QM) officials, including Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud, special adviser to chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani; Dr Karen Exell, NMoQ senior museum development specialist; Dr Haya al-Thani, NMoQ deputy director of Curatorial Affairs; and Saif al-Kuwari, NMoQ deputy director of operations.
The team shared previously undisclosed details with the public ahead of the museum’s official opening next year.
Sheikha Amna disclosed that the museum devotes a gallery to Qatar’s diverse natural environments such as the desert, garden and marine.
“Against a stunning visual background that immersively recreates the changing environments in different seasons, the gallery presents hundreds of beautiful animal models. These models range from a 5m-long whale shark, a herd of oryx to tiny, beautiful dragonflies and butterflies,” she said.
Sheikha Amna added that the visitor will hear the sounds of the wind, water and animals at moments as they move through the gallery. “Digital exhibits allow in-depth exploration of all the animals and their environments.”
The NMoQ director said that the museum will also have a dedicated intergenerational and accessible learning space, allowing families and young children to explore the gallery themes.
“The galleries will inspire people to learn more about Qatar’s history and culture. We have designed this new institution to be a place of active learning, especially for young people and their families, which takes place even before you enter the museum,” she explained.
Featuring the museum’s park, NMoQ aims to create outdoor areas for children – a venue to learn through play and “explore about our ancient maritime culture or our important present-day role in the world’s energy sector.”
The 112,000sq m public park features family-friendly interactive learning environments, walkways, a lagoon, and more. It is landscaped exclusively with drought-resistant native vegetation.
NMoQ will also offer an array of cultural and educational activities for the community such as workshops, competitions and lessons on arts education.
NMoQ representatives and senior QM officials at the press briefing at the Museum of Islamic Art yesterday.
