The Majlis brings Qatari culture on the global canvas

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Unesco Director- General Audrey Azoulay ‘The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue’ exhibition has received a grand opening at the Unesco headquarters in Paris.The travelling cross-cultural exhibition, featuring unique assembly of global artefacts from the Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum, opened on Thursday following its highly successful showcase at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.The opening of the exhibition, that reflects the interaction of civilisations in the past while encouraging dialogue in the present, hosted more than 200 VIP guests.HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, Unesco’s Deputy Director General for Culture Xing Qu, and the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum director Kees Wieringa were present.A highlight of the ceremony was the performance of the official world premiere of the specially composed song 'Cultures In Dialogue', by the famous Qatari composer Dana Alfardan. Numerous musicians from Qatar took to the stage on the occasion.In addition to distinctly establishing the rich Qatari culture on the global canvas through impressive artefacts, the exhibition also emphasises the crucial importance that museums play in showcasing the cultural prowess in initiating dialogue.Preceding the inauguration, VIP guests had the opportunity to view the astonishing and exceptional collection that bear witness to hundreds of years of intercultural dialogue and interaction of civilisations, through a guided tour around the exhibition. Objects of great beauty and deep fascination including Qur’an copies in Chinese, mosque lamps made in Vienna, Persian carpets with Russian texts featuring the Virgin Mary, and mystic artefacts shared from Africa across the Arab world to India, were the prime highlights, triggering a diversification of thoughts and emotions.HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani and Xing Qu addressed government, cultural and corporate officials from Qatar and France, representatives of a number of cultural institutions, as well as Qatar Shell chairman and managing director Andrew Faulkner, at the opening. The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue has been organised at the initiative of the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum, in collaboration with the Unesco Doha Office, the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Qatar Museums. Under the Platinum sponsorship of Qatar Shell, the Silver sponsorship of Refalo & Zammit Pace Advocates and local sponsorships of QNB and Katara Hospitality, the exhibition will stop in the Unesco headquarters for two weeks before moving forward to the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, for a two-month period. The exhibition intends to drive visitors to sit in the majlis to listen to stories and engage in conversations on what they see; transmitting the cultural dialogue by exchanging their impressions of the exhibition and learning about other cultures and religions at first hand.This diverse cultural exhibition recreates the atmosphere of the majlis—the space of hospitality and dialogue present in homes throughout the Arabian Gulf—offering guests the opportunity to exchange ideas about how much common ground exists between different cultures, and how these commonalities have been expressed in technology, art and culture. Commenting on the occasion, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani said: “We are overwhelmed to receive such a stupendous response for “Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue” event in Paris. The city is known to be a connoisseur of global art and culture and the success of this event very well resonates with its inherent philosophy of spreading peace by way of artefacts, handicrafts, arts and songs. By taking this event to various parts of the globe, we intent to spread the message of hope and positivity, by way of breath-taking artistic displays, to the global canvas and encourage visitors to respond to what they see by sharing their own stories, creating dialogue between East and West, between young and old, within a real Majlis seating. This event has also positioned Qatar firmly on the global map and reaffirmed its strength to the global audience.”Unesco Doha Office director Dr Anna Paolini said: “The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue in Paris truly exemplifies how art can perfectly play the role of a critical enabler in building bilateral ties. In sync with the philosophy that museums play a decisive role in strengthening the creative economy locally and regionally, we take immense pride in associating with this noble cause and such an exemplary initiative. Qatar possesses a great culture and it needed to be projected in the right way and the right place; hence the Majlis which did an excellent job in propagating the very notion of blending art with business to drive future growth.”Qatar Shell chairman and managing director Andrew Faulkner said: “This exhibition will help to build awareness of Qatar’s commitment to promoting outreach, openness, and integration through the nation’s cultural heritage, while also linking this heritage to those of other peoples and civilisations. Qatar Shell is proud to support such an initiative.”QNB Group acting CEO, Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa, said: “Throughout the years, QNB Group has supported many initiatives and events that promote the rich heritage of our beloved nation, and we are very happy to help make The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue initiative happen and continue on this path, through providing our local sponsorship. QNB believes that culture and art communicate across barriers of language and bridges communities. By sharing the roots and values of the Qatari people with other communities outside Qatar, we can all contribute to bridging cultural understanding, promoting a peaceful co-existence, and achieving prosperity for all.”Katara Hospitality chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani said: "The Gala Night facilitated networking opportunities for the like-minded people to connect over cultural matters, moreover to discuss and deliberate upon the key role museums play in showcasing a region's cultural prowess.”Dana Alfardan said: “I am honoured to contribute a piece of music dedicated to bridging cultures and promoting dialogue. Music is a universal language that transcends physical and cultural barriers, creating shared values and experiences that enrich the human spirit and condition. This piece was composed to highlight historical commonalities between civilisations around the world. The musical features of this composition resonate between Eastern as well as Western cultural movements and traditions, with the intention of bridging the gap, and invoking a heritage based on inclusion”.The exhibition is only the beginning of a much bigger project to connect people, beliefs and cultures by creating opportunities for respectful, yet incisive dialogues to take place. The project envisions to create a platform where relevant cultural aspects can be discussed, and original perspectives can be generated through collective thinking. The aim is to initiate meaningful connections between people and cultures and stimulate enriched dialogue around the world.The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue is a visitor’s experience that reveals how global perspectives can vary depending on the position of the viewer. Following Paris, the exhibition will visit several countries, including Austria, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and the UK. The tour will also include the US by 2021.