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 When “Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art” opened its doors in 2010, it did far more than unveil a new architectural space; it filled a cultural gap and answered a critical regional need.  Speaking recently on the Evolution Nation, Voices podcast, Mathaf director Zeina Arida highlighted the museum’s founding purpose and how it continues to shape the institution’s direction.  “And when Mathaf opened its doors, it was really answering a need of answering a gap, filling a gap, and answering a need, which was to have a collection studying artistic practices in the region, also preserving these works and making them accessible,” she said.  “There was also always this important mission of contributing to writing the history of artistic practices, biographies of our artists, but also always supporting future production,” Arida said. “And what we are doing, like where we are heading towards, is exactly in the same spirit and vision.”  As Mathaf celebrated its 15th anniversary last year, the milestone provided a natural vantage point to look both backwards and forward.  While the physical museum may be relatively young, its roots stretch further back, grounded in the foresight of its founder.  “Mathaf is the most important collection of Arab modern and contemporary art in the world, and that’s very, of course, important,” Arida stated. “I also like to always remind that the museum opened its doors 15 years ago, but it has been in the making for 40 years.”  “And this is what we also tried to do in the exhibitions... which is really to look at how the museum was being prepared, how the collection was actually collected by Sheikh Hassan and all the stories that evolved to make it what it is today,” she noted.  The initial collection of Mathaf was assembled by Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed al-Thani, a prominent Qatari art collector and cultural patron, regarded as a driving force behind Qatar’s modern and contemporary art scene.  This deep-seated continuity remains the anchor for Mathaf’s future evolution.  “From the start, what is very common – between the vision of Sheikh Hassan and the museum and the future as we see it – is the fact that it’s the platform to support artistic production focused on the region,” Arida said.  When asked what it takes to operate a cultural organisation of this magnitude, her answer centred on a single, vital concept: care. Running Mathaf requires an intricate balance of public-facing curation and behind-the-scenes preservation. “What does it take? It takes a lot of care, I would say, first,” she said. “It’s not only about collecting the important artists, making sure we don’t forget and making sure that we fill the gaps of the collection because there are always gaps, but also making sure that it’s always relevant.” “As you know, (what) we’re going through, our society and, there are constant changes in both the challenges we face, the conflicts in the region, and it’s very important that the museum – probably a contemporary art museum, more than any other museum – that it stays relevant to its times and to its audiences,” Arida said. Looking ahead over the next 15 years, the director said the institution’s path forward is guided by a clear conviction: standing still is not an option.  As the digital era accelerates, regional dynamics evolve, and emerging technologies reshape how people engage with culture, museums and cultural institutions must continually innovate and adapt to remain relevant.  “I’m very aware – obsessed even – by the idea of staying relevant,” Arida said. “Always questioning what we do, the way we do it, making sure that we are always listening to both the needs of the artist and the art scene, but also the needs of the audience, the change.” 

Children visiting Mathaf have added their voices to Qatar’s national mourning, writing messages that combine prayers for His Highness the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani with gratitude for the country he helped build. Their words show how HH the late Father Amir’s legacy is being carried forward by a younger generation. Jassim Mohammed al-Salahi described HH the late Father Amir as “a protective shade that sheltered his people and a light that illuminated their path”. “He was a wise and visionary leader who devoted his efforts to serving the State of Qatar and laid the foundations of its modern development,” Jassim wrote. He said HH the late Father Amir was known for his loyalty to Qatar, his dedication to the advancement of its people and his commitment to strengthening the country’s standing. His life and achievements, Jassim added, would remain in the memory of generations through the national legacy he left behind. Jassim thanked Mathaf for giving visitors an opportunity to express their feelings through the condolence book. Turki Hassan al-Malki offered a prayer for HH the late Father Amir and reflected on Qatar’s loss. “With his passing, Qatar has lost a leader who left an enduring mark on the country’s journey of development and progress,” Turki wrote. He said HH the late Father Amir’s achievements would remain in the hearts of his people and all those who witnessed his generosity and contributions. Turki thanked the museum for providing a space where the community could record its condolences. Khalid Mohammed al-Salahi’s message centred on prayer. He asked Allah Almighty to envelop HH the late Father Amir in boundless mercy, place his contributions in the balance of his good deeds and grant him the highest level of Jannat Al-Firdous. Khalid also prayed that Allah grant patience and strength to HH the late Father Amir’s family, Qatar’s leadership and its people, while preserving the country’s security and stability. “May Allah have abundant mercy on HH the late Father Amir and reward him with the greatest reward for all that he gave to his nation,” he wrote. Through these handwritten tributes, the condolence book has become more than a formal record. It offers young people a quiet way to participate in national remembrance, express gratitude and carry HH the late Father Amir’s memory into the future. 

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art opened “Resolutions: Celebrating 15 years of Mathaf Exhibition” and “we refuse_d” to the public Friday, honouring its roots in Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali al-Thani’s foundational collection and confronting the struggles of artists who face censorship and displacement.“Resolutions”, on view until August 8, 2026, explores the institution’s journey, showcasing four areas that cover its origins and impact on the region.The section “Infrastructure: Traces of a Legacy”, curated by Fatima Mostafawi, examines the museum as a complex case study rooted in the vision of artist and collector Sheikh Hassan.It details how Doha emerged as an artistic hub during the political turmoil of the 1990s and includes archival materials like letters, photographs, and video interviews that capture Sheikh Hassan’s role as both fellow artist and patron.The exhibition continues its self-examination with “Mathaf as Institutional Memory: An Exhibition History”, curated by Hadeel al-Kohaji, which chronicles the “kaleidoscopic range” of exhibitions the museum has hosted.This section utilises an elaborate timeline and backstage documents to foster a sense of institutional memory, valuing the museum’s publications, graphic design, and international partnerships.“Resolution” broadens its scope to the regional impact of art, featuring “Education: Art as Knowledge Creation”, curated by Noora Abdulmajeed.This underscores the foundational role of art education in cultivating revolutionary possibilities and knowledge circulation within the Arab world.“Representation and the Writing of History”, curated by Arthur Debsi, spotlights how artists in West Asia and North Africa used a shared visual language in the post-independence era to define a Pan-Arab ideology and continuous resistance, especially in relation to the occupation of Palestine.Addressing contemporary issues, “we refuse_d” exhibition, curated by Nadia Radwan and Vasif Kortun, brings together 15 artists whose practices explore refusal, endurance, and action.On view until February 9, 2026, this exhibition asks critical questions about how to persist, resist, and create under conditions of silencing, censorship, and displacement.Speaking to the media, Kortun said: “To see other people’s misery it’s not what we really wanted to do and we kind of turned the idea of refusal around its head... we know of the concrete cases of cancelations but what we don’t know is the untold, or unwritten or unknowable history of refusals and cancellations.”Among the highlights of this exhibition are Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara’s *Untitled, from the Mahmoud Darwish series (2008), the newly commissioned installation *Resonance (2025) by Majd Abdel Hamid, Samia Halaby’s *Six Golden Heroes (2021), and Taysir Batniji’s early work *Untitled (1997).

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, will host "Unmasking the Mind: How Art, Sound & Story Heal Us", a public panel discussion on October 8. The session coincides with the activities held to mark Mental Health Awareness month, and underscores Mathaf's commitment to mental health advocacy and community wellbeing by offering an inclusive platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, as well as exploring the role of effective creative expression in improving mental health. Through hosting this event, Mathaf demonstrates how museums and cultural institutions can actively contribute to public health, providing safe spaces where art, music, and psychology intersect to break stigma and open new possibilities for healing. This initiative also reflects Mathaf's broader commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together clinical psychologists, artists, and musicians to explore innovative approaches to wellbeing. Indeed, the panel discussion underscores Mathaf's dedication to empowering the public with knowledge, encouraging participation, and nurturing a culture of open conversations around mental health. The panel will address the intersection of art, music, and psychology, and the role of creativity as both a means of artistic expression and a therapeutic tool. The panel will feature a number of specialists, including: Dr. Zhivka Pesheva, clinical psychologist, life coach and musician, Dr. Marta Casillas, clinical psychologist, Olga Velcheva, musician and sound therapist and Ramzi Bou Kamel, musician. The session coincides with Qatar Museums' 20th anniversary celebrations, which coincides with the launch of its "Evolution Nation", an 18-month campaign celebrating Qatar's cultural journey, from the founding of the Qatar's National Museum to the its established system of cultural institutions.