Qatar Museums – New Operating Hours

Qatar Museums (QM) is entering another busy exhibitions season, jam-packed with world-class shows and community workshops.

QM has a number of major exhibitions on show across several of its sites and is getting ready to open two more exhibitions as part of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture next week. Looking to accommodate increasing interest from residents and visitors to Qatar, QM has announced extended operating hours for its museums, galleries and institutions.

Opening in QM Gallery Al Riwaq, Driven by German Design is curated by Prof. Dr. Martin Roth, in close partnership with the Volkswagen Group. It traces the evolution of German design over more than six decades, and features numerous design objects loaned from some of Germany’s most significant cultural institutions.

Simultaneously, opening at Doha Fire Station, Garage Gallery, German Encounters – Contemporary Masterworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection, will showcase a selection of artworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection – one of the world’s most important corporate collections of contemporary art.

In addition, The Museum of Islamic Arts’ (MIA) blockbuster exhibition, Imperial Threads: Motifs and Artisans from Turkey, Iran and India, has been extended to run until 27 January 2018. The exhibition shows a new element of MIA’s extraordinary permanent collection by highlighting the connection between three major dynasties that marked the start of the early modern period in Islamic art – the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

Another significant exhibition on show at MIA is, Powder and Damask: Islamic Arms and Armour from the Collection of Fadel Al Mansoori. The exhibition, presents edged weapons and firearms crafted primarily in Turkey, Iran and India from the 17th to the mid-19th century.

Lastly, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha has recently updated its permanent collection galleries. The exhibition, titled Mathaf Collection, Summary, Part 2, is the new interpretation of the museum’s extensive collection, bringing together landmark artists and pivotal works that redefine modern and contemporary art practices and historical narratives.

For more information on the exhibitions and programmes, please visit: http://www.qm.org.qa

Press Contacts
Rania Hussein, Qatar Museums: rhussein@qm.org.qa (+974 4402 8535)
Federica Zuccarini, Qatar Museums: fzuccarini@qm.org.qa (+974 4402 8510)

About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums connects the museums, cultural institutions and heritage sites in Qatar and creates the conditions for them to thrive and flourish. It centralises resources and provides a comprehensive organisation for the development of museums and cultural projects, with a long term ambition of creating a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure for Qatar. Under the patronage of His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM is consolidating Qatar’s efforts to become a vibrant centre for the arts, culture and education, in the Middle East and beyond.

Since its foundation in 2005, QM has overseen the development of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the Al Zubarah World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.The QM also manages the QM Gallery at Katara Cultural Village, the ALRIWAQ DOHA Exhibition Space and the Fire Station: Artists in Residence. Future projects include the launch of the highly anticipated National Museum of Qatar and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.

QM is committed to instigating Qatar’s future generation of arts, heritage and museum professionals. At its core is a commitment to nurturing artistic talent, creating opportunities and developing the skills to service Qatar’s emerging art economy. By means of a multi-faceted program and public art initiatives, QM seeks to push the boundaries of the traditional museum model, and create cultural experiences that spill out onto the streets and seek to involve a wide audience. Through a strong emphasis on originating art and culture from within and fostering a spirit of national participation, QM is helping Qatar find its own distinctive voice in today’s global cultural debates.