Doha, 24 February 2019 — Qatar Museums (QM) announced the return of ‘Marchitecture’ – a nationwide cultural showcase, which gives Culture Pass members exclusive access to some of Qatar’s iconic buildings and cultural sites. The annual month-long event will offer the public insight into the evolution of the country’s architecture, from historic sites to modern marvels, during the month of March.

The ‘Marchitecture’ initiative has been specially designed to give members of QM’s Culture Pass programme exclusive access to cultural experiences in a wide variety of locations. This year, more than 20 events have been organised as part of ‘Marchitecture’ for Culture Pass members to enjoy. Many private and public sector organisations have pledged their support for the programme, including Qatar Foundation, Qatar University, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Msheireb Properties, l DAF, DGVE Limited, Atlas Bookstore and Sheraton Doha.

‘Marchitecture’ will give participants an opportunity to gain access to unique building, enjoy talks by renowned architects and take part in private tours. Culture Pass members will have the options of touring many iconic sites and building in Qatar, including Al Zubarah Heritage; the new Msheireb development and its museums; the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Pavillion; Fire Station; the Minaretein building (Education City Mosque), the ‘2015’ building (Qatar Foundation Headquarters) and Qatar National Library at Education City; the Museum of Islamic Art; Burj Doha; and Qatar University. Making an inaugural appearance in ‘Marchitecture’, tours at Q Post, Sheraton Hotel Doha and Freiha Village Tour will also be available.

A series of public talks planned for the month of March include “The Past, Present, Future of Al-Zubarah” planned as the opening talk, and “Transformation of National Museum of Qatar.”

Commenting on the development of ‘Marchitecture’, Qatar Museums Acting CEO Ahmad Al Namla said, “Under the guidance of our Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, ‘Marchitecture’ has become a testament to our ongoing commitment to enhancing and enriching the lives of all those who live in and visit the country. As part of the popular Culture Pass membership scheme, ‘Marchitecture’ has become an excellent example of the types of initiatives Qatar Museums develops for all those who live in and visit Qatar.”

Sheikha Nouf Mubarak Saif Al-Thani, Head of Partnerships at Qatar Museums, said: “Marchitecture was one of our most successful initiatives last year and was well received by audiences who wished to explore the rich architectural offerings in our country. We are very excited that this year’s edition will include the National Museum of Qatar – the latest addition to Qatar’s growing arts and culture scene.”

Mrs. Machaille Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, said: “Preserving and promoting Qatar’s cultural heritage is a key element of our community development focus, not only because it allows us to explore and cherish our past, but because our heritage has meaning and relevance for our lives and our society today.

She added : “Qatar Foundation’s support for, and involvement in, ‘Marchitecture’ reflects our belief that providing opportunities for people to engage with culture and heritage provokes thought and inspires creativity, while enabling people to interact with their environment and with each other. We look forward to welcoming participants in this national celebration of culture to some of our landmark buildings at Education City, for what we hope will be both an enjoyable and enriching experience.”

Fatma Al-Nuaimi, SC Communications Director, said: “We are delighted to once again lend our support to the Marchitecture project. It is a promising initiative and I would encourage people to take the opportunity to immerse themselves in the many historical, cultural and architectural delights Qatar has to offer.

“We are looking forward to meeting Culture Pass members, and will be delighted to showcase our progress and plans for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and beyond.”

A local emerging artist, Bouthayna Al Muftah, who has become famous for archiving collective memories through ink drawings, was a key programme collaborator and helped develop the visual identity for this year’s ‘Marchitecture’ promotions.

As a nod to the National Museum of Qatar’s landmark opening on March 28, 2019, the final tour of the ‘Marchitecture’ month will be devoted to the new museum. Culture Pass members will be able to sign up for a private tour of the museum with its architect, Jean Nouvel, and members of the NMoQ team who have brought the vision of the desert rose to life.

Another new and unique tour added to this year’s programme is a chance to tour Freiha, a small abandoned town situated in a shallow bay dating back from the early 18th century to the mid-19th century. The site features a fort with high defensive walls and corner towers and the remains of a traditional Qatari mosque.

Full details of the programme are available at CulturePass.qa. New Culture Pass members can pick up their Culture Pass cards at the Museum of Islamic Art gift shop to get access to Marchitecture experiences.

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