Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has hosted a gala dinner at the new headquarters of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF).
Organised to coincide with The New York Times “Art for Tomorrow” conference, the event welcomed some of the world’s leading artists, curators, art collectors and museum directors.
The new headquarters, designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, sits at the heart of one of the most creative hubs in the city of Doha, and uses technology to enhance the learning experience in a unique urban landscape.
Speaking at the gala dinner, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa described different examples of how urban landscapes were evolving ambitiously within existing city frameworks, including in Doha.
She cited the recent conversion of the fire station into an artist in residence programme and the ongoing jury competition to convert flour mills into a new museum.
“The region is rich in its cultural offerings. There are so many places to visit, from archaeological sites to new buildings in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE. Moreover, major events are taking place in the next decade, from the Expo in Dubai in 2020 to the World Cup in Doha in 2022.  Contemporary times are, therefore, embedded into our regional narratives.”
The gala dinner took place on the penultimate day of The New York Times “Art for Tomorrow” conference, which concluded yesterday.
More than 300 delegates from the arts, public and private sectors, tourism experts, city planners and business developers from 28 countries were in attendance to explore and discuss the many global influences shaping the creative infrastructure of nations and cities today.
Guests were treated to keynote speeches from 45 internationally renowned figures and cultural pioneers, as well as the leading lights of the arts and culture community from across the Middle East and Qatar.