Qatar’s involvement in Art Basel aims to foster global dialogue: QM Chairperson

Basel: Chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM) H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani affirmed that Qatar possesses a strong cultural infrastructure tha...

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

Speaking at 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 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 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, centres 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 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 centre for modern and contemporary art.