Qatar Museums has announced that the Museum of Islamic Art will reopen following an improvement project and an update of its permanent collection galleries.
The museum, which is among the top establishments devoted to Islamic art, will open its doors to visitors on October 5 in time for the surge of tourists and soccer fans arriving in Doha in preparation for the Fifa World Cup, which starts in November.
The redesign was carried out with the intention of improving the museum’s use, interest, and educational value alongside works that the institution has long been recognised for, many of which are on show at the museum for the first time.
A thorough visitor trail will accompany the collection galleries, providing interpretive materials to assist put the artworks in context as well as interactive displays and multisensory activities to make the museum more approachable for families and younger visitors.
The galleries will be set up based on geographical locations, historical and cultural topics, and time periods. They will investigate the magnificent artistic heritage of Islam. The museum will also debut a brand-new section on Islam in South-East Asia and concentrate on cultural interchange both within and outside of the Islamic world.
When the city once more developed into an artistic, cultural, and commercial centre in the 20th century, the exhibition will also illustrate its legacy in contemporary times. 160 items will be on display, including pieces that have been borrowed from important institutions all across the world.
The bottom floor will serve as the starting point of the new visitor experience with an introduction to the museum. While the previous majlis has been renovated into an immersive gallery allowing visitors to learn more about what inspired its construction, a new area has been set aside for the creation of the museum.