Call for further investment in Qatar's museums

Qatar Museums Chief Executive Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, has called on the Qatari Government to further enhance the region’s museum sector and inspire the country’s youth.

Established in 2005 by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar Museums is the leading authority for museums in Qatar, aiming to be a ‘cultural instigator for the creation generation’.

Speaking at a recent ‘Generations of Culture’ panel discussion at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Al Mahmoud stated “the museum industry is relatively new in the region and the interest of the audience is in the early stage.

“However, our government has begun to realise the importance of museums.

“Today, museums are one of the most popular attractions and educational centres of the world. Globally, demand for museums has grown substantially. In the last 20 years, the number of museums and attendances have nearly doubled.

“Museums have very strong positive impact on the economy. In the US, museums employ over four million people and receive more visitors than sports events and theme parks combined.”

Al Mahmoud added that cultural tourists spend 63% more on average than other tourists and museums are among the top three family destinations anywhere worldwide.

Qatar is already investing in its museum sector, with multiple projects catering to different sectors of society including the under-construction National Museum of Qatar, the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and Qatar’s Children’s Museum.

Al Mahmoud concluded “investing in museums and collection however is not enough; the other half of the investment relies on our relationship with students.

“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of creative audience and producers. It is youth that will become our future and carry the growth of this art and culture industry in the years to come.” 

Image shows Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art.

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