Led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar Museums this week participated in the Fourth World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Organised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) together with the Republic of Indonesia, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), WCCE is a major event on the international conference circuit for leaders and innovators to discuss how to overcome challenges in international creative economies.
During her keynote address, titled Global Collaboration in Creative Industries and presented at the opening ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said, “What we see in Qatar, and elsewhere, is that the creative industries can transcend cultural and language barriers, enabling the exchange of ideas and the development of innovations across the globe. Whether in visual art, film, digital media, fashion, or the culinary arts, the creative sector drives societal progress and brings people together to address global challenges.”
The three-day conference, held from 2 to 4 October, was organised around the theme “Inclusively Creative: A Shifted Reality.” Among those in attendance were Mr. Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan; HE Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group; Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director General, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization and Sandiaga S. Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Qatar Museums representatives and speakers included Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, and Fahad Al Obaidly, Acting Director of Design Doha.
Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, joined international museum directors and entrepreneurs for a panel titled “Cultural Hubs: Museums as Catalysts for Creative Community in Urban Space” to provide her insights into how museums can foster collaboration, encourage education, and engage communities. Other panelists included Wang Xudong, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum; Yannick Lintz, President of Guimet Museum in Paris; and Mareva Grabowski–Mitsotakis, entrepreneur and Founder of Mstudio. The discussion was moderated by Bobirmirzo Sayomov, Head of Museums Development Department at the Agency of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Fahad Al Obaidly, Acting Director of Design Doha, a Qatar Museums biennial showcasing local, regional, and global design excellence, took part in a panel titled “Creative Structures: Bridging Architecture, Design, and Economic Growth.” The discussion, moderated by Cyril Zammit, an independent design advisor, also included Ahmed Al-Mannai, Co-Founder of Shepherd Studio; Ekaterina Golovatyuk, architect and Сo-founder of Grace; and Jayden Ali, Founder of JA Projects. The panel examined how architecture and design practices can be engines for economic growth.
Sara Raza, one of the curators of Seeing Is Believing: the art and influence of Gérôme, an exhibition organised by the future Lusail Museum in collaboration with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art that opens in November also attended the conference along with foreign dignitaries, entrepreneurs and founders of companies, CEOs and directors of major institutions. Uzbekistan, a vibrant nation at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, has long been a hub for thinkers, leaders, and creatives. Event attendees took part in networking opportunities, diverse talks, experiential workshops, live performances, and enjoyed a vocal performance by Dana Al Meer, a Qatari singer.
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About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs —that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention. For more information visit https://qm.org.qa
Media Contacts
Mohammed Khames Al Abdallah
mfaraj@qm.org.qa
+974 4402 8544
Wasay Mir
wasaym@qm.org.qa
+974 3319 5504