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Mathaf, Arab Museum of Modern Arab announces plans for future in Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday 7 October 2010: Qatar Museum Authority's Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art announced its plans to provide a forum that raises awareness and interest in modern art at the second of its pre-launch events, held in Beirut.

"There has never been one museum that encapsulates art from the entirety of the Arab world and we hope to rectify that by providing a space where people from the region can learn about their modern and contemporary art and visitors from further afield can learn about the region and its art," announced Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani, Qatar Museums Authority 's Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors and founder of the museum.

Mathaf Acting Director and Chief Curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi spoke of the role that interactivity and dialogue will play at the new museum.

"We will be a highly interactive institution, and the importance of opening now in this temporary location is to engage with our public while we develop our final and permanent location. The feedback we receive from our public will heavily affect the development of the institution," she said.

Ms. Al-Khudairi added that Mathaf would provide a space for students, scholars, artists and the general public to gather and engage in modern and contemporary art from the region.

The event took place at Le Gray hotel in Beirut's Martyr Square and included a talk on The "Lost" Canons of Modern Arab Art, which touched upon Mathaf's potential role in locating and highlighting specific stories about the Arab art scene over the last hundred years.

Renowned art historian and curator Dr. Nada Shabout was interviewed by Antonia Carver, art critic, writer and director of the popular Art Dubai fair. The event was attended by some of the most prominent names in the modern and contemporary Arab art world, including celebrated Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi, in addition to pillars of the Lebanese art scene.

Dr. Shabout talked of the fruits that have come from artistic dialogue in the past. "There is a myth I'd like to address concerning the artists of the early twentieth century; it is widely believed that these artists lived within their own bubbles, not communicating or working with one another. From the research I have conducted, I've found that the actual situation was quite the opposite: they were most likely better connected to one another than artists of our own day and age," she said.

Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani reacted to Beirut's warm reception of the project by explaining the importance of the city for the Arab art community. "Our choice of cities for this announcement tour was very deliberate: Cairo, our first stop on the tour, is the city where art was first taught in the region and is rich in art history; Beirut has long been a focal point for art production and the strongest art market in the Arab world and Marrakech has always been the gateway to the western
frontier, always proving itself to be a meeting point for culture and art," he remarked.

-Ends-

About Mathaf
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is a new institution for Arab culture and creativity. Home to a unique permanent collection that offers a rare comprehensive overview of modern Arab art, Mathaf (which means "museum" in Arabic) will also perform an important role as a center for dialogue and scholarship and a resource for fostering creativity. The museum is located in a former school building in Doha's Education City that has been transformed by architect Jean-François Bodin.

About Qatar Museums Authority
Under the leadership of His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Qatar Museums Authority ( QMA ) carries out a multi-faceted program that celebrates Qatari identity, builds understanding across borders and welcomes the world to Doha. In addition to Mathaf, QMA currently oversees the renowned Museum of Islamic Art designed by I.M. Pei (opened in 2008), the construction and development of the new National Museum of Qatar (designed by Jean Nouvel), archeological research projects throughout the nation, and the development of future projects.

About Qatar Foundation and Education City
Qatar Foundation was established in 1995 by His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, with a threefold mission of education, scientific research and community development. Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al- Missned, wife of the Emir, Qatar Foundation's flagship project is Education City, a 1,000- hectare (2,500-acre) campus on the western edge of Doha. Institutions operating in Education City include the Qatar Academy, the Qatar Leadership Academy and The Learning Center, all serving students from childhood through secondary school; the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies; and branches of Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and Northwestern University.

Media Contacts
U.S. and Europe: Olivia Wareham, Ruder Finn Arts & Communications Counselors
+1 212 583 2754 / warehamo@ruderfinn.com

Qatar and Gulf Region:
Farris Bukhari, 3FA - Qatar
+974 3369 8919 / press@mathaf.org.qa

Tarané Ali Khan, 3FA - U.A.E.
+971505449147 / press@mathaf.org.qa

Visit Mathaf online at www.mathaf.org.qa

© Press Release 2010