National Museum recaptures the historical milestones of Qatari people
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
has unveiled its milestone exhibition, A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory:
Fifty Years Told, commemorating five decades of preserving and celebrating
Qatar’s cultural journey. The anniversary celebration also includes a series of
special events, such as the Anniversary Awards Dinner: Recognising Evolution
– A Journey from Tradition to Tomorrow and Taste Evolution: The
Collaboration Dinner presented by Qatar Creates.
The exhibition, inaugurated by H.E.
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar
Museums, traces NMoQ’s evolution—from its founding in 1975 as the region’s
first national museum to its transformation in 2019 into an architectural and
experiential landmark designed by Jean Nouvel. The ceremony was attended by
Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, and Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani,
Director of NMoQ, along with senior officials and dignitaries.
Festivities began on October 22,
2025, with the symbolic voyage of the historic dhow Fateh Al Khair along
the Doha Corniche. Bearing the museum’s emblem on its sail, the dhow’s journey
embodied NMoQ’s enduring narrative of continuity, resilience, and
transformation. The celebration featured performances by acclaimed Qatari
singer Mansoor Al Muhannadi and other national artists, underscoring the
museum’s role as a living bridge between Qatar’s heritage and its modern identity.
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The event also honoured the donors whose contributions have enriched Qatar Museums’ collections and safeguarded the nation’s cultural legacy, reflecting a shared civic pride and collective dedication to heritage preservation.
The Anniversary Awards Dinner
recognised individuals and teams whose efforts shaped both the original and
reimagined museums, while live performances by Dana Al Meer and Hala Al
Emadi—blending traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary sound—captured
Qatar’s evolving cultural voice.
The evening concluded with Taste
Evolution: The Collaboration Dinner, a culinary showcase by Chef Noof Al
Marri and Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Cheminade of QC+, who together crafted a
menu inspired by Qatar’s geography, heritage, and family traditions. This event
marked the beginning of a series of pop-up dining experiences celebrating
Qatari cuisine’s evolution.
Running from October 24, 2025, to
February 7, 2026, A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory: Fifty Years Told
highlights the museum’s pioneering approach to storytelling through innovative
displays. It features contemporary re-creations of elements from the original
1975 museum—such as the beloved Earth Dome—alongside archival photographs,
documents, and artworks that trace NMoQ’s journey through time.
Founded under the vision of H.H.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatar National Museum opened in 1975
within Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Palace, winning the Aga Khan Award for
Architecture in 1980. The museum was later redeveloped and reopened in 2019
under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a
groundbreaking building inspired by the desert rose.
Reflecting on the museum’s legacy,
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Thani said:
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“For half a century, the National Museum of Qatar has safeguarded the legacy of our nation while pioneering new ways of storytelling through technology. A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s Memory invites visitors to celebrate this history while envisioning what lies ahead.”
The exhibition unfolds across
Gallery 13 and the Old Palace, presenting archival materials, personal
testimonies, and new commissions by Qatari artists Shouq Al Mana and Khalifa Al
Thani.
Shouq Al Mana’s site-responsive work
reimagines the original Earth Dome, blending technological innovation with
national symbolism, while Khalifa Al Thani’s installation Our Past is the
Foundation; Our Future is Built Upon It uses AI animation to reawaken the
Old Palace’s architecture and spirit.
Visitors are invited to record their
own memories in interactive installations, including Echoes of Time: The
Four Doors by Yousef Fakhoor—a multisensory experience of sound, light, and
video that connects Qatar’s past, present, and future.
Complementing the exhibition, a
robust public programme will engage audiences of all ages through workshops,
creative sessions, and culinary initiatives. Programmes like NMoQ Late: Our
Heritage, By Young NMoQ will empower youth to explore cultural leadership
through art, collaboration, and innovation, positioning the museum as a creative
“third space” for learning and community connection.
Culinary collaborations with Chef
Noof Al Marri, Desert Rose, and Jiwan will further highlight food as living
heritage, linking traditional practices with contemporary creativity.
A Nation’s Legacy, A People’s
Memory: Fifty Years Told is part of Evolution
Nation, an 18-month national campaign by Qatar Creates celebrating Qatar’s
50-year cultural journey. The initiative underscores the nation’s evolution
from tradition to modernity and reaffirms NMoQ’s place as a cornerstone of
Qatar’s identity—preserving its past, inspiring its present, and shaping its
future.
Source: https://www.iloveqatar.net/