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Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art invites visitors to experience a world-class collection of modern and contemporary art showcasing evolving styles and genres.
Established in 2010, Mathaf providing a uniquely Arab perspective on contemporary art. The museum’s permanent collection features more than 9,000 works by notable artists from Arab world from the 1840s to the present day. Landmark artists from countries and regions connected to the Arab Peninsula are represented, encompassing Africa, Asia and Europe.
Mathaf can be reached by the free Mathaf bus service.
Mathaf is easily accessible via car. The distance from Hamad International Airport is approximately 30 minutes.
Mathaf is accessible by the Doha Metro. Education City station is the closest metro station. The museum can be accessed via the Blue line of the Education City tram.
One of Qatar’s most important cultural attractions, Mathaf provides an Arab perspective on contemporary art. The works on display narrate the story of the Arab world as viewed by its artists, and presented through different art forms – from paintings and mixed media to sculpture; resulting in one of the largest collections of Arab-made and art in the world.
As a commentary on socio-political realities, the art at Mathaf gives voice to the changes which swept through the Arab world. The works encompass themes such as nation-building, post-colonialism, reconstruction, the oil industry, urbanisation and a peoples’ aspirations in a rapidly changing world. Traditional forms including calligraphy, craftmanship and geometric patterns are harnessed to produce works reflecting on social, economic, and geo-political changes current to the times. Mathaf offers visitors the opportunity to consider the reinvention of visual languages by Arab artists as they developed a unique voice that broke from Eurocentric norms.
Mathaf is housed in a renovated school building designed by acclaimed French architect Jean-François Bodin within the Education City complex. The museum works to initiate dialogue, organising exhibitions and education programmes as well as an annual competition and exhibition for students.
Mathaf contains an onsite library with a vast assortment of books on modern art and art history, with a special focus on the Arab world. The bilingual Mathaf Encyclopedia - a scholarly resource providing basic facts and in depth information on modern art of the Arab world, is available online, free of charge.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is located in Education City. Unlike any other place in Qatar, Education City is home to branch campuses of some of the world’s leading educational institutes, a homegrown research university, start-up incubators, technology parks, heritage sites, cultural institutions, and much more.
Best time to visit: All year round!
Saturday–Thursday: 9:00–19:00
Fridays: 13:30–19:00
On a purpose-built island abutting the Corniche, Doha’s waterfront promenade, the building itself is an architectural wonder designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei. The museum contains four floors of permanent and temporary exhibitions, gift shop, a café and a haute cuisine restaurant IDAM by renowned chef Alain Ducasse, on the fifth floor. It is also home to a heritage library, with a collection of 21,000 books including 2000 rare editions in both Arabic and English.
Located outside the city in a traditional style fort at Al Samriya Farm, the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum houses the Sheikh’s personal collection, with a body of works including Islamic art, Qatari heritage, vehicles, handmade carpets, and coins & currency, from over four continents. These diverse and eclectic objects tell the story of the museum’s founder, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim, as well as of humanity in general.
Within the refurbished development of Msheireb in the oldest part of the capital, the Msheireb Museums celebrate the history of Qatar. Four heritage houses – Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House and Radwani House – were restored by property developer Msheireb and transformed into museums that explore key players and periods in Qatar’s history and evolution.
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