Her Excellency also discussed the visit of the renowned American artist Richard Serra to Doha. She added that, during his time at the Museum of Islamic Art, he was inspired by an Afghan minaret, which led him to create the sculpture 7. She affirmed that there are many ideas that need to be translated into reality, despite the widespread belief that Arabs import ideas from the West, noting that the world’s oldest museums were in fact located in Mesopotamia and in Alexandria, Egypt.

Her Excellency praised what Western institutions have achieved in developing their cultural institutions and their significant investment in this field, stressing that this is not a new phenomenon. Her Excellency said that, in the same way cultural dialogue can be rebalanced, technological dialogue can also be rebalanced, emphasizing that there is no longer a need to travel to Silicon Valley in San Francisco to implement ideas, as Qatar has sufficient capacity to bring ideas to life within a capable infrastructure.

She stressed the importance of technology enhancing humanity rather than diminishing it, adding that the greatest challenge facing parents and societies lies in protecting children. Her Excellency wondered how children can be given tools to build genuine and deep relationships amid the overwhelming presence of technology.

Her Excellency reviewed the role of the Children’s Museum, which seeks to teach children positive ways to use technology without harming themselves. Her Excellency added that while technology companies aim to create dependence on technology, there is also a genuine desire for technology to be used to make people more productive, efficient, intelligent, tolerant, and respectful, as long as the central focus of everything being offered today remains the human being.

Her Excellency affirmed that when artists create their works, they do not do so solely for beauty, but to convey what surrounds them, their experiences, and the social and political conditions of their time. In light of children’s short attention spans, she noted that they can learn more by viewing a work of art or an exhibition than by being asked to read large amounts of text.

Her Excellency said that members of society today need to be kinder and more compassionate toward one another, and that museums and cultural institutions play a major role in fostering this.

Her Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar launched a national vision in 2008 and is now on the verge of completing Qatar National Vision 2030, which fully embodies this approach. Her Excellency noted that people were at the heart of this vision, and that all efforts made were investments in enhancing the capabilities and potential of the population living in Qatar, whether citizens or residents. Her Excellency said that this national vision serves as a reference for all entities in the country, and everyone understands the guidelines within which they operate. Her Excellency highlighted that the focus has always been on people, and the more investment made in talent, the greater the pool of creatives across various disciplines will be.

Her Excellency stressed that investing in creativity does not necessarily mean that a person becomes an artist; they may become a technology entrepreneur, a future leader, or pursue any other path.

Her Excellency also discussed the first phase of this 25-year vision, which focused on national identity and heritage, beginning with the Museum of Islamic Art, followed by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and culminating in the National Museum of Qatar. Her Excellency noted that Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art has undergone significant development and has become a major hub for creativity and innovation. It was strategically located next to Education City, an area characterized by a diverse population of students, academics, and other residents.

Her Excellency pointed out that the National Museum of Qatar was located in an area of great significance, surrounded by heritage houses more than a hundred years old. Her Excellency stressed that these projects implemented within this context have no defined endpoint, noting that the National Museum houses a Microsoft-affiliated artificial intelligence laboratory.

Her Excellency said that the second phase of the plan included the Children’s Museum and the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, both inaugurated as part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with due consideration given to the importance of working with artificial intelligence and keeping pace with developments.

Her Excellency affirmed that the final phase of the national plan for Qatar’s museum sector is represented by global projects currently under development, such as the Qatar Auto Museum, which explores the evolution of the automotive industry in Qatar with a particular focus on families, as well as the Lusail Museum, which addresses Orientalism, the history of colonialism, and related themes.

Her Excellency announced the launch of a new partnership between the National Museum of Qatar and Google Cloud, under which the game Mario Kart has been completely redesigned using Qatari cultural investments, transforming it into an educational tool.

Her Excellency concluded her remarks by saying that technology today plays a fundamental role in culture, as evident with the role it plays with Dadu Children’s Museum in Qatar, highlighting that the core concept of the Children’s Museum (expected to open in 2029) centers around interaction with the environment. (QNA)