Venice, May 09 (QNA) - Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums (QM) Mohamed Saad Al Rumaihi, said that international exhibitions are a cornerstone of the institution’s strategy to raise Qatar’s cultural profile worldwide, noting that such shows help build cultural understanding and reinforce a creative economy.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Rumaihi said that overseas exhibitions spotlight Qatar’s rich national identity and cultural heritage while showcasing the country’s growing creative community. He added that culture today functions as a vital platform for global dialogue, strengthening ties with distinguished institutions abroad and, in turn, nurturing talent and innovation.

Al Rumaihi described these exhibitions as a form of cultural diplomacy that enhances Qatar's status as an open nation that values dialogue and exchange and sees culture as a bridge between peoples.

Speaking about cultural and museum relations between Qatar and Italy, and in particular the recent opening of the Beyti Baytak exhibition in Venice and A Design Journey with Marcello Gandini, he said that those initiatives come within a cooperation agreement designed to deepen cultural partnership between the two countries.

He added that working with the City of Venice marks an advanced step in forging strategic relations, given Italy’s global cultural legacy. Al Rumaihi added that it was an ideal partner for Qatar Museums given Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers an exceptional venue for cultural engagement.

Looking ahead, Al Rumaihi said there are ambitious, ongoing plans for new joint exhibitions and projects. He pointed to the future Qatar Pavilion site in Venice’s Giardini della Biennale, which will display architect Yasmeen Lari’s community majlis installation during the 2025 Architecture Biennale, an event intended to reflect Qatari traditions of welcome and hospitality. He also said that the Design Journey with Marcello Gandini exhibition will move to the National Automobile Museum in Turin in summer 2025, underscoring the continuity of fruitful cultural collaboration.

Al Rumaihi emphasized that QM’s international participation fosters mutual understanding among nations. Such partnerships, he added, keep Qatar at the forefront of cultural and creative exchange and encourage human interaction based on mutual respect.

He concluded his interview with QNA by saying that Qatar Museums hopes to sustain this approach by inviting Venetians and visitors to explore Qatar’s cultural heritage and, in return, encouraging Qatari audiences to discover the inspiring cultural offerings of Venice.