Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar possesses a strong cultural infrastructure that offers a platform for showcasing art, acquiring works, and discovering regional talent. She emphasized that the country's partnership with Art Basel aligns with the broader cultural and sports ecosystem established under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as a pillar of national economic, social, and human development.

Speaking during a panel discussion held on the sidelines of Qatar Museums' participation in Art Basel in the Swiss city of Basel, Sheikha Al Mayassa explained that the State of Qatar believes the time is right to reinforce the cultural foundations it has invested in by expanding platforms for art display and acquisition while also allowing galleries to discover talent across the region.

She went on to explain that the State of Qatar's 25-year strategy has been divided into three phases. The first focused on expressing a local and authentic voice, marked by the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art, the Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Qatar. The second phase, which includes the recently launched 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, centers around social development, with the goal of transforming cultural institutions into hubs of learning rather than just entertainment.

She noted that the sports museum was launched in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and that the country is now working on the Dadu Children's Museum, located in Al Bidda Park, the largest public park in Qatar. She also mentioned the Fire Station-Artist in Residence, has been converted into a vibrant studio space for artists and creatives from the region.

During the panel, Sheikha Al Mayassa said that the State of Qatar's involvement in Art Basel is aimed at launching projects that foster global dialogue. One such initiative was the Lusail Museum, which explores themes of post-colonialism and identity crisis in the region. She described it as a space where art and culture are used as tools for healing and connection. Another is the Qatar Auto Museum, which recently collaborated with the National Automobile Museum in Turin. She also highlighted the Art Mill Museum, a transformation of Qatar's last standing flour mill from the 1980s into a center for modern and contemporary art.

Speaking about the Lusail Museum, she described it as a comprehensive island project built around a collection focused on Orientalism and Western artistic interpretations of the East, pointing out that many Western painters drew inspiration from the region.

Sheikha Al Mayassa outlined Qatar's creative ecosystem, which includes the Fire Station: Artist in Residence, the Doha Film Institute, M7 (a hub for fashion, design, and tech), and Liwan Studios for design. She also revealed ongoing work to establish a vocational school aimed at nurturing artists and developing talent.

She concluded by stating that Qatar's national vision has guided the country to use arts and culture as a real investment in human development. Unlike many nations that approached culture from an economic lens, Qatar began with human capital, aiming to transform its hydrocarbon-dependent economy into a knowledge-based society.

Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani pointed out that Lusail is a city of the future, home to the iconic Lusail Stadium designed by architect Norman Foster, and hosts the offices of the financial sector. She noted that Lusail is a highly innovative city thanks to its free zone and is one of the few places where foreigners can own and relocate their business premises.

Her Excellency said that the Lusail Museum includes a center for intellectual exchange, established in partnership with various cultural institutions such as the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, and with universities including Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Georgetown University in Qatar, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, and Qatar University.

She emphasized the importance of empowering artists and engineers, understanding their needs, and supporting them to make the best use of available resources. She also warned about the risks of technology becoming dominant, especially for children, and how this may lead to a diminished ability to feel emotions.

HE Sheikha Al Mayassa recounted that when she first saw the Lamp Bear sculpture by Urs Fischer, now at Hamad International Airport, during a Christie's auction in New York, her father, HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, envisioned bringing art into the under-construction airport as a gesture of welcome aligned with Qatar's transformation into a cultural hub for human development.

She added that bringing the Lamp Bear sculpture into the airport building was logistically challenging due to its weight, but once the airport opened to passengers, it became a landmark where people would stop and take photos.

She went on to say that they developed merchandise inspired by the sculpture, highlighting the value of having a clear vision and strategy, and being open to how the public responds.
She expressed her pride that Qatar Airways is a partner of Art Basel, along with Qatar Sports Investments, noting that the integration of sports, aviation, and art within one vision is a source of joy and pride.
Her Excellency remarked that Switzerland has long been seen as a benchmark for high-quality education and a refined lifestyle, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030, which places strong emphasis on human development and quality of life that encourages social inclusion.
She noted that many joint cultural events are expected in the future, expressing her thanks to the Art Basel team and their highly enthusiastic partners for the upcoming event in February, as well as the Qatari partners: Qatar Sports Investments and QC Plus.
Sheikha Al Mayassa concluded her remarks by affirming the collective excitement around hosting Art Basel in Doha, aiming to take Qatar's creativity to the global stage through this kind of partnership.