The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has launched an exciting range of public programmes based on the theme of ‘Qatar and the Sea’. Consisting of interactive talks, workshops for young people and families, special events and community activities, the extensive programme shines a spotlight on the richness of Qatar’s natural setting.
Organised as part of NMoQ’s efforts to become a key cultural pillar within the community, the series of events brings together local experts and members of NMoQ’s teams and other educational organisations to explore new themes every month.
Some of the public workshops due to be held next week include:
Book Club Series:
The first series is titled ‘Al Qursan/The Corsair’ by author Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud. It will be held on Wednesday, 17 April from 4 pm-6 pm at NMoQ’s Mohammed Jassim AlKhulaifi Library. The book is an action-packed story of high-seas piracy and political intrigue, of unexpected kinship and historical events in the Arabian Peninsula. Discussion of the book will be led by author Essa Abdullah.
Creative Workshops for Adults:
The first creative workshop is titled ‘A Colour Chart of the Sea’. It will follow in the footsteps of traditional artists and allow participants to create their own colours by mixing different pigments from natural sources.
Participants will be encouraged to use their own visual experiences and memories of the sea as a starting point to create a beautiful colour chart. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 17 April from 5 pm-7 pm at the NMoQ Learning Studio.
The second creative workshop is titled ‘Marbling Workshop Interactive Painting’, which takes place the following Wednesday, 24 April from 5 pm-7 pm in the NMoQ Learning Studio. The aim of this workshop is to teach participants to observe the natural world around them, particularly the waves and wind, to create expressive artwork through paper marbling techniques.
Culture Club Talks:
Presented by Dr Ferhan Sakal, from QM’s Archaeology Department, this talk titled ‘The Foundations of Doha’ will discuss the Joint Old Doha Rescue Excavation initiative, organised in collaboration with UCL Qatar. The talk will shed light on the history of the people in Doha and their relationship with the sea and will take place on Thursday, 18 April from 5:30 pm-7 pm in the NMoQ Auditorium.
International Earth Day:
This workshop for International Earth Day will be held under the theme ‘Save our Seas’, during which participants will discover different ways to creatively recycle plastic to help keep the seas clean. The workshop will take place on Monday, 22 April from 5 pm-7 pm in the NMoQ Learning Studio.
NMoQ Seminar Day:
Separately, NMoQ will also organise the first seminar its kind in the country to address the field of Visitor Studies, which will be attended by international experts including Professor John Falk, Executive Director of the Institute for Learning Innovation, Oregon State University.
The seminar will comprise talks, group work and feedback sessions delivered by Dr Karen Exell, Senior Museum Development Specialist at NMoQ, to discuss visitors’ needs, their expectations from museums and understand their motivations.
Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Given that the events are expected to be enormously popular, interested visitors are encouraged to arrive early at the venues. To discover more, go to www.nmoq.org.qa
Museum admissions:
Admission to NMoQ, MIA and Mathaf will be charged at the entrance. General admission will be QAR50 for adults; QAR25 for students and free for children under 16, Culture Pass Plus and Culture Pass Family Members, and visitors with disabilities. Tickets will be free of charge for Qatari nationals and residents of the State of Qatar, with a valid Qatari ID. General admission tickets include exhibitions within the museum and are valid for three consecutive days from the date of the first admission. Museum Pass is QAR100 and permits admission to all museums and venues, valid for three consecutive days from the date of the first admission. For full terms and conditions, visit: https://www.qm.org.qa/en/ticketing-terms-conditions