26 Nov 2008
Qatar art museum opens
BY Pete Hayman
The Museum of Islamic Art at Doha, Qatar was officially opened on 22 November, showcasing a range of artistic and historical examples of Islamic culture dating back as far as the 7th century, spanning three continents.
Designed by the Chinese-born architect, I.M. Pei, the museum has been built on a artificial island and comprises a five-storey main building, a two-storey education wing and a central courtyard.
In addition to the main gallery area, the museum features a 200-seat auditorium, a library, a conservation laboratory and presentation areas, boasting nearly 45,000sq m (484,376sq ft) of exhibition space.
Operated by the Qatar Museum Authority, a five-year partnership has been agreed with a number of facilities across the globe, including British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the Louvre in Paris, to offer a programme of exhibitions from their collections.
The museum opens to the public on 1 December.
Close Window