Making the National Museum of Qatar: Creating a National Museum for a Local Audience under Global Scrutiny
In March 2019, the new National Museum of Qatar opened its doors. In the context of regional discord, increased global attention and a renewed focus on Qatari national identity, how was the museum created and how has the world reacted? Drawing on over eight years of working on the museum’s interpretive development, this presentation will examine the intersection of Arabian Gulf and western museum traditions and present examples of interpretive elements designed to meet the expectations and needs of both local and international audiences. It will also explore the tensions and opportunities inherent in developing a museum experience rooted in local culture against the backdrop of a globalised perception of what a museum should be.
Date: 29 November 2019, 13:00 (Friday, 7th week, Michaelmas 2019)
Venue: Pitt Rivers Museum, South Parks Road OX1 3PP
Speaker: Rachel Teskey (Principal Consultant, Barker Langham Cultural Planners)
Organising department: School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography
Topics:
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editor: Kate Atherton