For NMoQ Junior Guides

Junior Museum Guide

Training Manual
Learning & Outreach NMoQ Department
Guides Section

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WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF
QATAR

As Museum Guide, you represent the National Museum through fostering

communication and participation with our visitors and members of our

community within and beyond the museum walls.

The main objective of this Training Manual is to introduce you as cultural

ambassadors for the National Museum of Qatar.

Our open dialogue approach with visitors and communities creates an

authentic informal learning atmosphere and enjoyable experience.

Special attention is given to your youth with the desire of encouraging

long term museum advocates. Our hope is that the museum acts as a

place of inspiration for their future career paths and studies.

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Table of Contents

Section 1: Museum Guides

Junior Guide Rights and & Responsibilities ……………………………………………………………. 1

Dressing Code and How to contact us …………………………………………………………………... 2

How to lead and care for visitors in the National Museum of Qatar ……………………… 4

Handling people who require special care ………………………………………………………………7

Post Museum Visit ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

Section 2: The National Museum of Qatar Experience

The National Museum of Qatar Experience Introduction ………………………………. 10

Chapter 1 Beginnings ……....……………………………………………………………………………. 12

Chapter 2 Life in Qatar ...………………………………………………………………………………...16

Chapter 3 Modern History of Qatar.………………………………………………………………. 22

Public Artworks ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 29

Temporary Exhibitions ………………………………………………………………………………………… 39

What else about the National Museum of Qatar? ………………………………………… 42

Museum Map ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46

Arabic Glossary NMoQ Galleries ..………………………………………………………………………… 47

Museum Glossary………………………………………………………………………………………………… 50

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Junior Guide Rights and & Responsibilities

Volunteers have the right to:

- Get the Volunteer Certificate from NMoQ after you fulfil your all duties.
- Work in a safe & healthy workplace
- A supportive environment in which to work and contribute
- Effective and meaningful volunteer involvement practices
- Have your say about your work and ideas regarding your role or program
- Provide feedback and receive feedback when requested and at regular intervals
- Ask for and receive support from your supervisor when required
- You may resign from your volunteer program at any time (ideally 2-week notice)

Volunteers have a responsibility to:

- Always be ON TIME and come at least 15 minutes before your duty time
- Act with respect for all the staffs, organization, and its work
- Act responsibly and with integrity, respect all policies in place
- Fulfill the duties of the role as defined in the position description, efficiently and
effectively
- Volunteers are expected to perform their duties on a regular scheduled and
punctual basis
- Notify your supervisors if you are unable to fulfill your duties or miss a shift (a
phone call in case of emergency or an email 72 hours before the scheduled duty.
Kindly note that not more than 3 absences will be accepted per each month to
get the volunteer certificate
- Recommend suggestions and changes if you determine any

Volunteers who do not adhere to the rules and procedures of the organization or who
fail satisfactorily to perform a volunteer assignment may be subject to dismissal.
Continual absenteeism will result in a review of the volunteer’s work assignment or term
of service.

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Dressing Code & Behavior

- The use of mobile phone in the galleries is not allowed

- No short sleeves
- No short skirt
- No shorts
- No extravagant jewelry or nails polish
- Avoid Strong Fragrances
- Wear Neat, Polished Shoes
- Keep Facial Hair Groomed
- No volunteer may act as an official spokesperson for Qatar Museums
- Drinking or eating in the galleries is not allowed

How to contact us

- Check your email regularly

- Always send a confirm reply, such as: Well noted, Confirmed, to show this email
has been received successfully
- Include a subject line, a proper opening, and a closing line
- Know your audience - for formal emails to colleagues or prospective employers,
use polite and professional language

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Useful Contacts
Email: (juniorguidenmoq@qm.org.qa)
Head of Guide Section: Ms. Nadya Mohamed Al Saleh (nsaleh@qm.org.qa) mobile
55252001- +974 4402 8733
Supervisor Junior Guide Volunteers: Ms. Menglei Jia (Hilal) (mjia@qm.org.qa) mobile
55545328
Call center: Shahinda Mohamed (infonmoq@qm.org.qa) mobile 50733340 - 5747
extension

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How to lead and care for visitors in the National Museum of Qatar

Main purpose of a Museum Junior Guide

• Your main role as a museum junior guide is to deliver simple guided tours to
visitors in the National Museum.
• You will ensure the safety of all individuals and groups while on-site at the
National Museum and act as a cultural ambassador, representing the museum
as Qatar's signature destination and as a source of pride for Qatar.

How will I welcome and lead my visitor?

Pre-visit Preparation for Museum Guides

Preparation prior to the arrival of visitors is important. Knowledge of the museum is

key.

As a Museum Junior Guide, I would prepare for the group visit prior for the day and
make

sure, of the following requirements in preparation for my tour:

✓ Prepared to warmly welcome visitors upon entry to the museum and assist them
with a SMILE!
✓ The number of people within the group.
✓ The nationality, language, likes and dislikes of the group.
✓ Have a sense of what collections will be focused on in a space of a one hour.

✓ Tour, what would be more interesting for the audience.

Introduction of Our Tour

• We introduce the visitors to their designated Museum Junior Guide in the

language of their choice.

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 • The museum Junior guide studies human behavior whereby individuals within a
group share a common space, exchange ideas, share common experiences and
function as a system of interconnected entities.
• A brief introduction to the museum is given by the museum Junior guide before
starting their journey.
• The museum Junior guide ensures that the visitors can hear his/her voice clearly
and keep the group focused and close together.
• A brief overview of do's and don'ts such as "keep noise levels down", "do not
touch the artworks/objects”, “do not use flash when taking photos”. Should there
be a need to use the rest room, directions to the rest rooms should be pointed
out to the audience.
• We would always keep eye contact with the audience and answer any quest ions
prior to the tour.

When We Start the Journey

A question to the visitors:” Is anybody familiar with the design of the museum?"
Introduce visitors to the architecture of the museum and the story behind the desert
rose. The importance of why the museum was designed provides visitors with a basic
understanding of their journey.

"Our journey through the museum......start the tour with a" once upon a time storyline.
"What do you think we will discover?"……arouse the imagination and curiosity of the
visitors’ mind.

The journey through the galleries is a story which takes the audience back in time 7
million years ago. The focus is on the themes of the development of Qatar to the
present day travelling through 11 galleries and periods of time

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During a guided tour, how do l as a museum guide keep the visitors focused and
intrigued?

- Be patient with your visitors.

- Allow for idea-sharing, experiences, opinions, and criticism from audiences.
- Allow for constructive listening and feedback.
- Invite your audience to use their imagination.
- Offer individual attention to each visitor.
- Keep questions from the audience to a minimum.
- Avoid repetitive information.
- Deliver your tour in a clear, direct, and simple tone of voice that is inspiring at
the same time.
- Answers questions in an objective manner.
- Portray honesty and facts in answering questions. If you do not know the answer
to a question or are unsure, try to revert to your visitor with the answer on the
same day within a short period of time.
- Allow for flexibility and short breaks during the tour at the discretion of the tour
group.
- Focus on Top Visual Priority (TVPs) that will attract and grab visitors’ attention.
- Keep within the timeframe of your tour to avoid agitation and frustration from
visitors.

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Handling People Who Require Special Care

The museum welcomes visitors from all backgrounds especially people who require
special attention such as the physically and mentally challenged. Disability can be
categorized into four different types: hearing disability, sight disability, physical
disability, and intelligence deficiency.

As Museum Guides it is our responsibility to make sure that all visitors visiting the
museum feel welcomed and valued and are treated with respect and care.

Dos and don’ts when handling someone with disability:

Dos Don'ts

A person with a disability Handicapped

He uses a wheelchair He is wheelchair bound

He has a learning disability He is learning disabled

She has a psychiatric disability She is crazy

A person who is blind A blind person

A person who is deaf A deaf person

A person who is unable to speak A dumb person

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Post Museum Visit

Prior to the visitors' departure, we need to ensure that the visitors encountered an
enjoyable and fruitful experience by:

- Asking visitors to provide feedback of their visit and suggested improvements.

- Providing more information on museum programs and activities.
- Providing information on what Qatar has to offer outside of the National
Museum, tourist attractions, and places of art and heritage sites.

The museum may keep visitor's contact details to maintain their relationship and keep
visitors informed of museum events. This encourages visitors to become regular clients
to the museum and improves serv ice delivery. This will encourage employee
satisfaction and efficient productivity which portrays a good image for the National
Museum.

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Introduction to the three chapters of the National Museum of
Qatar

The National Museum of Qatar Experience Introduction

The National Museum of Qatar, a celebration of Qatar's identity signifies Qatar

Museum's commitment to fulfilling the cultural goals of the 2030 National Vision,
contributes towards a sustainable cultural infrastructure and helps in building a
diversified, knowledge-based economy.

The museum, spread over a gross floor area of 40,000 square meters, and with a route
extending over 2.73 kilometers, is set out chronologically, beginning with the period
before the peninsula was inhabited by humans, and continuing up to the present day.
From the entrance the route passes through a succession of impressive multi-shaped
spaces until it reaches the museum's grand finale: the painstakingly restored Palace of
Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim AI Thani.

Now literally encircled by the discs of the new building, the restored palace is perhaps
the most significant monument in Qatar, as it was the former seat of government and
the site of the original National Museum. The old and the new complement each other.

The museum tracks Qatar's evolution and development. The story is told through a
succession of multi-layered exhibits that include art films, archive images, digital
interactivity, sensory elements such as audio, scents, tactile models, as well as
significant archaeological and heritage objects, jewelry and other treasures,
manuscripts, and documents. Around the park and inside, major artist commissions
created specifically for the museum add to the story.

Among the permanent exhibits are many exquisite bespoke models made by artists
models of boats, buildings, and archaeological sites, of animals and creatures of the
sea. Layered interpretation in the galleries enables visitors to engage at the level they
choose. Oral histories, a key resource for the museum, feature strongly. These will be
continually recorded and updated- indeed, all the content of the museum is designed

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to morph and grow. Infographics range in scale from the very large to the very detailed:
how deeply visitors will explore depends on whether they wish to gain an overall
picture or zoom in on a particular subject. Over repeated visits, there will always be
more to discover. For the visitor the result is a never-evolving adventure of visual
delights and surprises.

The Story of the National Museum of Qatar

The National Museum of Qatar is organized in three chapters: “Beginnings”, “Life in

Qatar”, and “Modern History of Qatar”. Within these chapters are eleven galleries.

The entrance to the museum is highlighted by a specially commissioned artwork by

Qatari artist Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali AI Thani. Just before the entrance
to the galleries, named Motherland.

Motherland expresses and represents the artist's connection and appreciation for the
land, motherhood, and national identity. The large-scale sculpture references a
traditional sailing dhow resting on the sands of the shore. The artwork also acts as a
tribute to the region's last generation of women who wore the bataola.

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Chapter 1: Beginnings

The Formation of Qatar

The first gallery takes the visitor on a journey through time, exploring the geological
and biological evolution of the Qatar peninsula. The story told in this gallery begins
more than 700 million years ago. At times the region was land-locked, at others it was
submerged under water, with the peninsula as we know it today emerging just a few
thousand years ago. The gallery offers an interactive exploration of the complex
geological processes that created the peninsula. Among the exhibits are fossils of
plants and animals from seven time periods.

Art Movie:

The Beginnings, 2018, 4 mins

Director: Christophe Cheysson

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

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If the National Museum of Qatar were a river, this first gallery would be the source: the
place where it begins, where time starts, where history, knowledge and evolution are
born. The Beginnings takes you on a journey through the marvels of space and
wonders of creation, revealing Earth as it was hundreds of millions of years ago and
the origins of Qatar today.

Qatar's Natural Environments

This gallery focuses on Qatar 's natural environments, and on the need to preserve the
country's diverse natural habitats. Featuring models and exhibits relating to
indigenous plants and animals, it shows the variety of life found today in Qatar, on land
and in the sea -from the Arabian oryx to the sand cat, from the sunfish to the
deathstalker scorpion. Significantly, Qatar is home to one of the largest whale shark
aggregations in the world. In the summer months, more than 100 individuals have
been spotted. Here, visitors can walk under a full-size model of a whale shark. At over
nine meters long, it is the largest fish found on earth.

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Art Movie: Land and Sea, 2017, 18 mins

Directors: Jaques Perrin, Christophe Cheysson

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

Land and Sea journeys across Qatar's landscapes and seascapes, discovering and
capturing a series of unique and diverse habitats and species. From the unobstructed
horizon of the desert, with dunes blanketed by a layer of clouds disrupted only by the
flow of wind carrying the sand grains over the canyons and through time, to the fertile
rawda of the winter. Diving into the deepest parts of the sea, and rising with the break
of dawn, the film leaves no hidden places, nor species promising the visitor a magical
adventure.

Family Exhibit: Qatar's Natural World

This learning space invites visitors to play, design and even become part of the story
of Qatar's natural world. Through a series of mini-interactive exhibits, they can explore
the local flora and fauna and discover the unique features that allow them to survive
the extreme climate. Towards the end, visitors are prompted to make a pledge about
how they can help conserve and protect their environment.

The Archaeology of Qatar

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This gallery takes visitors on a journey from the earliest human presence on the
peninsula thousands of years ago through to the thriving Qatari towns of the 1500s.
One of the largest displays of objects in the museum, 3,000 archaeological artefacts
are displayed in tall glass cases in chronological order, featuring large and small
objects, luxury imports and everyday goods. These include pottery artefacts from the
site of Murwab demonstrating Qatar's 10th century trade relationships, such as a
storage jar imported from Basra, Iraq, an Abbasid cup fragment with cobalt blue glaze
believed to come from the city of Susa, Iran, and a bronze Abbasid lion figurine
originally attached to a saddle or wooden chest - highly prized in Iranian iconography,
the lion as a decorative element illustrates the expansion of commercial networks
within the region.

Art Movie:

Archaeology, 2017, 20 mins

Director: Jananne AI-Ani

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

Jananne AI-Ani's film takes the form of an aerial journey across the Qatari landscape,
searching for and exposing a range of sites and habitats, which reveal the hidden
history of human occupation, from the early hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Paleolithic
and Neolithic periods to increased settlement from the Bronze Age onwards. The film
combines aerial footage of archaeological sites with images of a selection of artefacts
on show in the gallery, from stone cutting tools and arrowheads to fragments of pottery
and metalwork. The film moves back and forth between the macroscopic and the
microscopic, mirroring the shifting perspective of the archaeologist: carrying out aerial
surveys in order to locate archaeological sites before beginning the painstaking
process of excavation.

Family Exhibit:

Become an Archaeologist

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The next intergenerational learning space explores Archaeology in Qatar. Through a
series of mini-interactive exhibits, visitors are invited to take on the role of the
archaeologist and uncover how people in Qatar used to live many years ago. By
gathering and examining surviving artefacts, discovered at various archaeology sites
across Qatar, visitors experience archaeology firsthand.

Chapter 2: Life in Qatar

The People of Qatar

The centerpiece of this gallery is a beautiful three-dimensional map of the peninsula

that demonstrates how, in the past, people's survival in Qatar depended on moving
around the land. They moved to trade, to find water and pasture for their herds, to fish
and dive for pearls, to hunt and to go on pilgrimage. On this sculptured map,
projections bring to life nomadic patterns in and around Qatar. Gallery exhibits include
the artefacts of movement such as elaborate camel saddles and leather water bags,

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and objects related to traditional knowledge about plant resources and animal
tracking. A highlight is an array of objects from the wreck of the Cirebon, a boat that
sank 1,000 years ago off the Indonesian coast with trade goods from the Arabian Gulf.

The first of the museum's monumental oral history films from the archive created by
the National Museum Oral History department over the past 5 years, tells the story of
life in the desert. People with personal experience of this life tell their story in their own
words, directly to the camera their experiences and memories.

Family Exhibit:

Navigation and Movement

This learning space focuses on how life in Qatar in the past depended on seasonal movement.
A series of mini-interactive play exhibits highlight how people moved in search of water and
food, and to trade, as well as how expert trackers and navigators read animal tracks, bird flight
paths and the stars to help them find their way.

Life in AI Barr (the Desert)

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This gallery focuses on the challenges of living in al barr, the inland desert of Qatar, a
harsh environment where tradition, community, deep knowledge, and stories were
essential for survival.

The display of objects includes a complete bait al-sha'r (tent), laid out as if ready to be
packed up and transported, together with the beautifully wove and riwaq (dividing
wall), and a collection of everyday objects associated with cooking, coffee
preparation and falconry. There are large displays of traditional clothing and sadu
weaving. The sounds of poetry and the smell of coffee add to the potent atmosphere.

Art Movie:

Life in AI Barr (Desert), 2017

Director: Abderrahmane Sissako

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

Life in A I Barr (Desert) highlights the close relationships between families and comm
unities in the Northern Desert of Qatar between the 1950s to the 1960s, by reimagining
a day in the life of Bedouin family. The film brings to life the harmonious connection
between humans, animals and changing seasons. The birth of a baby came l signa ls
the start of a new winter season and the arrival of a new Bedouin family to join the
settlement. The women of the family set up the tent in a location of their choice. The
child plays close by, before joining her father in grazing the cattle. The father unloads
the luggage off the camel’s back. The dog and the eagle watch eagerly. The neighbors
come to visit and welcome. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone is happy to
contribute.

Family Exhibit:

AI Barr Life

Imagine it's 1959. Every winter you had to pack up your belongings, load them on to a
camel and start looking for a new home. That's what life for people in Qatar was like in

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the past. The fourth intergenerational learning space invites visitors to discover how
people lived according to the rhythms of the seasons, spending their days with their
families, working together to take care of each other and their herds of animals.

Life on the Coast

Moving from the desert to the sea, the visitor discovers a large-scale model of Qatar's
first UNESCO World Heritage Site, AI Zubarah. AI Zubarah is one of the largest and
best-preserved coastal cities in the Arabian Gulf. Active in the 1700s and 1800s, it was
an important center for pearling and trade. Finds from the AI Zubarah site reveal life in
the city, from the domestic to trade. A pearl merchant's chest, an extremely rare survival
from the town, is displayed here, as well as beautifully written religious texts that speak
of AI Zubarah’ s significance as a center for learning and religious education. Other
exhibits explore coastal activities such as boat-mending and fishing.

In an adjacent area of the gallery space a second oral history film designed by Jon Kane
focuses on the pearling industry. Like the first oral history film, it features Qatari people
speaking to camera with direct knowledge of fishing for pearls, and the hardships of
this life.

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Art Movie:

AI Zubarah, 2017, 11 mins

Director: Abderrahmane Sissako

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

AI Zubarah tells the story of life in the old coastal city of AI Zubarah, one of Qatar's most
significant historical sites. From the break of dawn and the echo of morning prayer, the
director, Abderrahmane Sissako travels with his audience through the alleys of the old
city, into mosques, courtyards, and markets, mapping the traditions and daily lives of
one nation in a changing world. Goods are seen arriving on dhows from the sea and
on camel caravans from the desert- through capturing a day in the life of the city the
film articulates how a country became a global port with international visitors. The crisp
clear pictures brushed with a special painting-effect across the film makes it fee l
timeless and eternal.

Family Exhibit:

Join the Pearling Crew

The pearling industry reached its height in Qatar between the mid 1800's and early
1900's. The fifth intergenerational learning space invites visitors to become members
of the pearling crew. Through a series of interactive exhibits, visitors are prompted to
take on the different roles on a pearling boat, where the crew has to work together to
survive the dangers of the sea and collect as many pearls as possible.

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Pearls and Celebrations

As the seasons began to turn at the end of the pearling season, the dhows and their
crews returned to Qatar, bringing with them hauls of exquisite pearls. This gallery
presents the results of the pearling industry and Qatar's connections with the world
through pearl exports.

The spectacular centerpiece is the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, commissioned by India 's
Maharaja of Baroda, Gaekwar Khande Rao, in around 1865. Embroidered with some
1.5 million Basra Pearls- so called because they were traded through Basra (in Iraq), a
major Gulf pearl trade hub- it is also decorated with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds,
and rubies. A magnificent expression of the scale and success of the Gulf pear ling
industry, it was described by auctioneers Sotheby's as 'undeniably one of the most
remarkable objects ever created.'

The gallery also showcases beautiful Qatari jewelry and clothing used at times of
celebration, including a large and ornate gold bridal necklace (known locally as
merta'asha) comprised of bejeweled openwork plaques linked to each other with
seven side-by-side decorative cha ins. These types of necklaces were originally
inspired by Indian jewelry and were later manufactured using Qatari design elements.

Art Movie:

Nafas (Breathe), 2014, 13 mins

Director: Mira Nair

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Produced by: Doha Film Institute

Nafas (Breathe) tells the story of pearl divers and the hardships they endured to bring
home a seasonal income, a story beautifully told through the parallel journey of a coup
le brought together on land and separated for months by the sea. A man leaves behind
his pregnant wife at the beginning of the pear ling season to join the men of the tribe
on a new adventure which will take them diving to the deepest beds of the sea, looking
for the best pearls. His wife joins the women waving goodbye as their loved ones sail
away into nothingness. Months pass... Children grow ... Seasons change ... Pain
accompanies a ll... The sea proves generous... It sends loved one’s home.

Chapter 3: Modern History of Qatar

This third chapter of the museum explores Qatar's modern political history, from the
arrival of the Portuguese, Ottomans and British to the Gulf, through to the unification
of the people under Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani and his successor, Sheikh Jassim bin
Mohammed bin Thani. The period covered extends from the 1500's to today.

Building the Nation

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Here the visitor encounters the involvement of the Portuguese, Ottomans and British
in Qatar's history, and the emergence of Qatar as a united nation under Sheikh Jassim,
covering the period 1500-1913. This gallery introduces the leaders of Qatar, from the
significant historical figures of Rahmah bin Jaber and lsa bin Tarif, to the first leaders,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani, and Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed. Displays present
archive documents, historic maps, and beautiful model boats.

Art Movie:

Shadows of History, 2018, 8 mins

Director: Peter Webber

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

In a gorgeous poetic manner, Shadows of History awakens figures of the past to re-
capture a story that contributed to the founding of the state of Qatar. The film depicts
the story of a man who united tribes under one flag to create a nation; a people that
became one to defeat an enemy marching towards them from the South. With an
occasional use of beautiful silhouettes inspired by Shadow theatre. Shadows of History
evokes curiosity, while providing the visitor with an insightful experience, which will
leave him in awe.

The Coming of Oil

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Covering the years 1913-1972, and the reigns of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim AI Thani,
Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah AI Thani and Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali AI Thani, this gallery tells
the story of the challenging years of the early twentieth century, when Qatar was
affected by the collapse of the pearling industry, the great storm that sank the pearling
fleet, known as Sanat Al Tabah, and by global events such as the First World War.

It also presents the turning point in Qatar 's fortunes, the coming of oil and the impact
that it had on Qatari society, culture, politics, and economy. This transformation is
presented through dense displays of the new objects available in Qatar, such as radios,
telephones and cars, and archive images capturing Qatar at this time.

Art Movie:

The Coming of Oil, 2017, 8 mins

Director: Doug Aitken

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

The Coming of Oil is a multi-channel installation that explores the layered geological
depths of the land and the historical legacy brought by the discovery of oil, a turning
point in the history and development of the present-day Qatar.

Family Exhibit:

Energy Hub

The final intergenerational learning space explores how energy makes the way we live
today possible. Here visitors are invited to shop at a grocery store only to discover all
the grocery items featured are made from petroleum by-products. Another exhibit
encourages visitors to work together as a team with the goal of harnessing and
collecting as much energy as possible to power Qatar.

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Transformation

Qatar's dramatic transformation between 1972 and 2013 is explored in this gallery,
which covers the reigns of Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad AI Thani and Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa AI Thani (H.H. The Father Emir). The oil industry brought great wealth, and
extended Qatar's trade connections across the world. Every aspect of life was
influenced, from diet and transport to employment and leisure time.

Here, exhibits relate to the country's massive urban development, economic growth,
international recognition and the flourishing of society and culture. At the center of the
space is a 5 meter-diameter sycamore-wood sculpture of the city of Doha, with the
city's urban transformations projected on to it. A multi-user interactive wall allows
visitors to explore a wealth of archive images related to the country's development.

Art Movie:

Alchemy, 2019, 9 mins

Director: John Sanborn

Produced by: Doha Film Institute

To change the world you must have vision, courage, and the will to succeed. With what
appears to be alchemy – but is actually a blend of pioneering science, innovative
investment, and intense dedication – the vision of the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamed bin
Khalifa Al Thani, has become a reality. John Sanborn’s Alchemy celebrates the

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remarkable daring and enormous benefits of Qatar’s development of Liquid Natural
Gas as a resource for the world. The work conveys the beauty and majesty of this
achievement, in an ingenious and poetic form, beginning with a mysterious unknown,
and ending with a smile of recognition.

Qatar Today

A cutting-edge digital space, this gallery will immerse visitors in Qatar's recent history
and immediate future, under the leadership of the current Emir, H.H. Sheikh Tamim.

The Old Palace

The historic and now restored Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim AI Thani (1880-
1957), built in the early 1900s, this palace is enormously important as a national symbol
and is one of the best loved of Qatar's landmarks. Following a painstaking restoration
project, over a period of more than three years, it now forms the final highlight of a visit
to the National Museum of Qatar.

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The palace had already undergone many modifications, additions and refurbishments,
and its texture and fabric tell a rich story about Qatar's development from the early
20th century onwards. After serving both as a family home and as the seat of
government, it became the original Qatar National Museum between 1975 and 1996.
There, visitors could see objects relating to the country's history and culture.

The recent restoration project, which gives a sense of the continuous development of
the palace, refurbished most of the buildings, including some, though not all, of the
1970s museum.

Among the palace's most important structures is the fine arcaded building at the center
of the courtyard, known as the Inner Majlis (the word majlis means a gathering place
for meetings, official business, and social interaction). This majlis is richly decorated,
with fine carved woodwork- with much of the wood identified as coming from India or
East Africa. The second majlis, in the north-east corner, has a large painted ceiling and
elaborate decoration. There is a third, much smaller one, nearby. There are three gates,
including the North Gate, which originally connected with the harbor. The house of
Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim, a traditional Qatari home, is the oldest building. It sits in
the southwest corner, near to the houses of two of his sons, which are also enclosed in
courtyards. The palace will be used f or programs and events, as well as being integral
to the museum visit

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Public Artworks

Artist: Ali Hassan 2019

Artwork: Wisdom of a Nation

For over 25 years Ali Hassan, a pioneering Qatari artist, has used the 28 letters of the
Arabic alphabet in his art, finding a 'worldly beauty' in each letter. Inspired by the
Qatari flag, Hassan references the eloquent nature of his mastered calligraphy style to
form Wisdom of a Nation.

For centuries Arabic poetry in Arab culture was the main form of literary expression.
Today, Hassan's work serves as a welcoming message to our visitors, with a n extract
from the poem of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, the founder of Qatar, and
his decisive role in establishing an independent sheikhdom.

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Artist: Hassan bin Mohammed AI Thani 2002

Artwork: Motherland

Motherland expresses and represents the artist's connection and appreciation for the
land, motherhood, and national identity. The large-scale sculpture references a
traditional sailing dhow resting on the sands of the shore. The artwork also acts as a
tribute to the region's last generation of women who wore the bataola.

The original work by AI Thani dates to 2002. This particular edition was commissioned
by Qatar Museums to be part of the NMoQ art collection.

Artist, scholar, collector and educator, AI Thani has played a pioneering role since the
1980s in cultivating and preserving modern and contemporary art in the Middle East
and North Africa. He has been at the forefront of art, cultural and educational
institutions in Qatar and is responsible for the foundation of Mathaf. His artwork, which
takes many forms, including painting, photography, sculpture, and experimentation
with fabric, is deeply rooted in Qatar's history and traditions, and inspired by his
friendships and exchanges with artists from across the Arab world.

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Artist: Aisha Nasser AI Sowaidi 2019

Artwork: Central Midkhan

Adapting with the idea of home systems, the Central Midkhan is designed to distribute
scent into more than one direction and place. When not in use, this industrial-looking
installation creates a strong aesthetic statement that celebrates design in various
industries. This installation takes the idea of a traditional and local ritual and transforms
it into a global concept of home systems.

Aisha Nasser AI Sowaidi is a multidisciplinary designer whose designs are an

expression of a Qatari designer towards the fast-developing country, globalization,
and traditions. AI-Sowaidi rethinks the forms of the daily objects within a household,
moving the traditional artefacts towards contemporary forms and functions.

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Artist: Bouthayna A I Muftah 2019

Artwork: Kan Ya Ma Kaan

Kan Ya Ma Kaan explores women's relationships with thahab (gold). Women have a
long history with gold and each portrait tells a personal story evoking feeling of
nostalgia. The audience is invited to step into a moment in time (hence the title Kan Ya
Ma Kaan/Once Upon a Time) while mirroring their own fee lings in this artwork.

AI Muftah's concept is rooted, in the story of 875, and its significance in Qatari culture.
21-karat gold is often used to make Qatari jewelry and is locally known as 875, which
contains 87 .5% pure gold and 12.5% other metals, usually copper.

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Artist: Ahmed Al Bahrani 2019

Artwork: Flag of Glory

This extraordinary sculptural work of art serves as a turning point in Ahmed AI Bahrani's
art career both literally and figuratively. Flag of Glory wholeheartedly embodies the
meaning of National Day for all who live on this blessed land. The sculpture portrays a
group of hands linked strongly together and is symbolic of all those who lived and live
in Qatar in unity raising the Flag of Glory This sculpture celebrates, honors, and
commemorates the leadership of Qatar, its people, those who live here in Oar Al'iz,
Tamim AI Majd, Hamad AI Khair and the burgundy (ainaby) color of the flag that runs
through all our veins.

Al Bahrani intentionally chose to depict the hands in a uniform manner to emphasize

the way in which Qatar honors its Qatari and non-Qatari residents equally. In return,
Qataris and non-Qataris are honored and humbled to be a part of this country and
stand united to protect and serve this country under one flag.

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Artist: Roch Vandromme 2011

Artwork: On their Way

Camels are extraordinary anima ls, closely bound to the people of Qatar and life in a /
barr (desert}. In early, Roch Vandromme (b. 1953) visited Qatar with the intention to
witness, experience and study this close bond for himself. During his visit, Vandromme
created sketches to capture these majestic animals' essence and character. His
intention was to portray the close relationship between humans and came ls. In this
sculpture, the presence of the two calves at the front represents and celebrates the
continuation of this dynamic relationship.

Roch Vandromme studied architecture at the Beaux-Arts in Paris and then attended the
Studio of sculptor Charles Gadenne. He dedicates his career to capturing snapshots of
animals in their natural state and at peace and gives them life in bronze sculptures.

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Artist: Simone Fattal 2019

Artwork: Gates to The Sea

Gates to the Sea embodies both the history of the State of Qatar and its present. On
this sculptural piece, the artist Simone Fattal has chosen to inscribe the petroglyphs
found at various archeological sites in Qatar. The petroglyphs depict boats, fish, and
scales, which tell us that the history of Qatar is inseparable from the sea that surrounds
it.

Qatari captains and sailors were famous for pearl diving and the merchants for the
international commerce that ensued. Still today, the land produces and exports by sea,
gas, and other essential products for the world market. By marking the entrance to the
new National Muse um of Qatar, the gate provides a link between the past and the
present.

Fattal was born in Damascus, Syria, and raised in Lebanon. In 1988, she enrolled in a
course at the Art Institute of San Francisco, which culminated with her newfound
dedication to sculpture and ceramics.

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Artist: Jean-Michel Othoniel 2018

Artwork: ALFA

In dialogue with the architecture of the National Museum of Qatar, Jean-Michel

Othoniel created a monumental installation of 114 fountain sculptures. ALFA arise like
majestic black reeds along the 900-meter-long shores of the lagoon. From various
angles, silhouettes reflected on the water evoke the abstract beauty of Arabic
calligraphy. During the day, every half hour the sculptures transform into fountains,
launching arabesques of water towards the sky. At night, the water jets light up,
highlighting the curves of the museum's architecture.

Jean-Michel Othoniel's enchanting aesthetics revolves around the notion of emotional

geometry. Using the repetition of modular elements such as bricks or his signature
beads, which are a recurring motif, he creates exquisite jewelry-like sculptures whose
relationship to human scale ranges from intimacy to monumentality.

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Artist: Nobel Peace Center 2020

Artwork: Peace Bench

A special gift from the Nobel Peace Centre in collaboration with the Norwegian
company Hydro to mark the 50-year industrial collaboration between Qatar and
Norway. The first bench was placed outside the United Nations headquarters in New
York city. It’s an internationally recognized symbol of conversation, diplomacy, and
dialogue. The title is “the best weapon” in reference to a famous quote by Nobel nelson
Mandela “the best weapon is to sit down and talk”. 6.5-meter-long bench is made from
100% recyclable aluminum. Designed by the Norwegian architect group Snohetta.

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38
Temporary Exhibitions

Artist: Pipilotti Rist

Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You Installation

Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You is the first museum installation in the Middle East by
internationally renowned Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist. Rist’s installation invites visitors to
embark on a journey of self-discovery through a multisensory experience that inspires
introspection and awe. Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You symbolizes humanity’s
collective unconscious and the power of the mind. A key feature of Your Brain to Me,
My Brain to You are “pixels” that comprise 12,000 LED lights strung on cables
throughout the gallery for visitors to navigate. Representing neurons, constantly firing,
and communicating with each other, the pulsing resin-encased bulbs have been
programmed in choreography with a soundscape and featuring abstract footage of
Qatar’s landscapes. Your Brain to Me, My Brain is inspired by NMoQ and the
landscape, history, and people of Qatar. The installation, referred to as a “pixel forest”,
inspires visitors to take a moment to reflect on their own mental well-being as well as
consider that of others.

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A sneak peek at Qatar Auto Museum Project

This exhibition introduces the concept design for Qatar Auto Museum, a new project
that will bring Qatar’s community under one roof and one mission: to drive culture
forward and inspire the next generation of innovators, designers, engineers, collectors,
and policymakers through shared passion for cars. Qatar Auto Museum will explore the
past, present and future of the automobile and its impact on global life and culture. As
a teaser, this exhibition displays three spectacular cars that have significant place in the
automotive world:

- The most valuable on Earth: The 1963 Ferrari 250 Berlinetta GTO
- One of the most outstanding, extravagant, and beautiful post-war coach-built
cars: The 1949 Delhaye 175 S Roadster
- The first transparent car built in America known as the “Ghost Car”: The 1939
Pontiac Plexiglass Deluxe Six

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On the Move (from October)

The exhibition aims to explore the lives of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists
across three distinct geographic regions: the Central Sahara, the Arab Middle
East/Qatar, and Central Eurasia/Mongolia in order to understand:

How they have created and maintained for themselves rich and meaningful social lives.
Producing complex and often beautiful cultural forms by making and imagining what
they want, and, in the challenging environments within which they seek their
livelihoods.

Main messages of the exhibition:

Nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists:

- Live “lighter on the land” and therefore have a less destructive or permanent
impact on their environments are impressively.
- Self-sufficient live and work in close proximity to animals and within a natural
environment about which they must have extensive knowledge, acquired, and
passed on through practical experience in multigenerational communities.
- Despite the minimalism of goods there is richness of cultural and artistic forms,
diverse expertise, and creative innovation, all of which have changed and
continue to do so in historical time.

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What Else about National Museum of Qatar?

Site

• Located on Doha's Corniche.

• The 40,000-square-meter building is surrounded by 112,000-square-meter (28-
acre) landscaped park designed by architect Michel Desvignes.
• The new building embraces the restored historic Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin
Jassim AI Thani (1880-1957), son of the founder of modern Qatar.
• In former times the Palace was the home of the Royal Family and the seat of
government. It was subsequently the site of the original National Museum from
1975 up to 2006.

Architectural Design

• The building design is inspired by the desert rose, a formation that occurs
naturally in the Gulf region when minerals crystallize in the crumbly soil just
below the surface of a shallow salt basin.
• The Museum building is composed of large interlocking disks of different
diameters and curvatures, which together surround the historic Palace like a
necklace.
• A central court, the Baraha, sits within the ring of gallery spaces and serves as a
gathering space for outdoor cultural events. With its sand-colored concrete
cladding, in harmony with the local desert environment, the building appears to
grow out of the ground and be one with it.
• The interior is also a landscape of interlocking disks. The curving, asymmetrical,
remarkably varied interior volumes make each gallery different from the one
before it, instilling a sense of adventure and surprise into the journey through
the Museum.

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Park

• The Museum Park features family -friendly interactive learning environments,

walkways, a 400-meter-long artificial lagoon, and more.
• The landscaped exclusively with drought -resistant native vegetation.
• The Park creates outdoor areas where children can learn through play and
exploration.
• There are 11 varieties of date palm.
• Large sidra trees has been carefully preserved. This local tree is symbolic of the
country.
• All the smaller plants in the park are desert species, including shrubs, herbs, and
grasses.
• Everything relates to the land and history of Qatar, and reveals a remarkable
diversity given the desert location of the country.
• Visitors will be able to wander freely through the gardens and setting for picnics.

Outdoor recreational learning spaces

There are three specially created outdoor children's play areas.

The Cave of Wonder is constructed like a cave, with rays of light coming through
openings in the roof. Inside are rocks that glow, rock carvings, objects that e merge
like archaeological finds from the sand, hanging bats and a giant gecko.

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The nearby Adventure Trip Playground is constructed like the wreck of a traditional
Qatari dhow. During their exploration children can learn about sailing, pearling,
fishing, trading, and other occupations. Through stories and songs, cargo, and
treasure, and through interactive play opportunities the children absorb history and
culture.

The Qatar Total Energy playground is an immersive and highly structured but
adaptive play space where children act the part of crude oil moving through an
engaging series of ‘pick-your-own-adventure’ scenarios. Each scenario interprets a
variety of stories, including the natural formation of fossil fuels, extraction, refinement,
storage/transport, and the myriad of final products used in society. (Coming soon)

The Mohammed Jassim AI Khulaifi Library and the National Museum of Qatar
Digital Archive

NMoQ hosts a public library dedicated to Qatar's history, heritage, and traditions,
open to museum visitors, student, and researchers. NMoQ has also created a ground
breaking digital archive of thousands and thousands of images, videos, and
documents. Content from this digital archive has formed a key element of the digital
media within the permanent galleries, and the archive will be available for public
access and research within the NMoQ library.
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Restaurants

NMoQ has 1 cafe and 1 restaurant namely:

- The Desert Rose Cafe located halfway around the galleries.

- Thalatheen, close to the parking, a vegan plant-based coffee
- Jiwan (beautiful Pearl) Restaurant a restaurant with panoramic views over the sea
front at the uppermost level of the Museum, operated under the auspices of
noted French chef Alain Ducasse.

The VIP Lounge features a sculpture, Central Midkhan, created by young Qatar
multidisciplinary artist Aisha AI Sowaidi. A midkhan is a Qatari household item, ancient
but still used today to hold incense.

Gift Shops

The gift shop at the National Museum of Qatar offers a large collection of exclusive
gifts, many of which draw their inspiration from Qatar’s history, heritage, and culture.
The design of the shop was inspired by the “Cave of Light” and consists in 40000
wooden panels.

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Museum Map

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Arabic Glossary NMoQ Galleries

G1:
Khatiyah ‫الخطية‬: name given to a meteorite found in Qatar (Dukhan) in May 2000
Sabkha ‫سبخة‬: salt lake in desert

G2:
Gerboa ‫جربوع‬: a species of rodent living in the desert of Qatar
Qurum ‫قرم‬: name given to mangrove trees and ecosystems
Rawdha ‫روضة‬: geomorphological depression in the desert where rainwater is naturally
collected and where plants and animals thrive
Sakr ‫صقر‬: falcon. The word saqara derives from it which means falconry

G3:
Al Jassassiya ‫الجساسية‬: area 75 km north-east of Doha known for historical rock carvings
Al Zubarah ‫الزبارة‬: an archeological site 110 km north-west of Doha known for the ruins
of the historical town of Al Zubarah and its fort
Ras Matbakh ‫راس مطبخ‬: an area situated on a peninsula east of the town of Al Khor
known for some archeological findings

G4:
Girba ‫جربة‬: water container used in wells in desert
Herat ‫هيرات‬: pearl beds or pearl diving sites at sea
Hawdaj ‫هودج‬: camel saddle used for women during their travels through the desert

G5:
Agal ‫عقال‬: men’s accessory used to keep ghutrah in place.

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Al Barr ‫البر‬: the desert, away from the coast where Qatari tribes live mostly during the
winter
Bait Al Sha’r ‫بيت الشعر‬: literally “house of hair” is the name given to the Bedouin tent,
generally made out of camel hair
Batoola ‫بطولة‬: traditional face mask worn by women once they get married
Bisht ‫بشت‬: traditional men’s cloak popular in the Gulf
Dara’a ‫دراعة‬: a traditional type of dress for women
Gahwa ‫قهوة‬: coffee in Arabic
Ghutra ‫غترة‬: a traditional headdress worn by men
Majlis ‫مجلس‬: a place of gathering where Arabs get together and drink coffee
Midkhan ‫مدخن‬: incense burner
Sadu ‫السدو‬: weaving techniques used to create tent strips, pillows, covers etc.
Thobe ‫ثوب‬: a long white robe-like clothing or tunic worn by men in the Gulf.
Wasm ‫وسم‬: animal markings

G6:
Badjir ‫بدجير‬: win tower used in old houses to cool the inside air
Dallah ‫دلة‬: coffee pot
Dareesha ‫دريشة‬: wooden shutters
Ghawas ‫غواص‬: pearl diver
Jalbut ‫جالبوط‬: type of dhow boat used specifically for pearl diving expeditions
Jiwan Pearl ‫الجيوان‬: the most precious and pure type of pearls, known for its perfectly
rounded shape with a discrete shade of pink
Lulu ‫لؤلؤ‬: pearls
Nafas ‫نفس‬: literally meaning “breaths”, a name of an art film made by Mira Nair relating
the difficulties of being a pearl diver in the past and the struggle of their families
Shamsiya ‫شمسية‬: decorative gypsum panels
Tawwash ‫طواش‬: pearl trader

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G7:
Barwa ‫بروة‬: a non-objection certificate given to divers to allow them to work with a
different boat owner.
Bishtakhtah ‫بشتختة‬: wooden pearl chest used by pearl traders to store pearls
Dana ‫دانا‬: a type of white, bright, and spherical pearl

G8:
Taba’a ‫الطبعة‬: drowning at sea

G9:
Dukhan ‫دخان‬: area south-west of Qatar where oil was discovered in 1939

G11:
Al Ada’am ‫األدعم‬: maroon color of the Qatari flag

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Museum Glossary

Vocabulary Definition
Acquisition Formal procedure agreeing to add an
item into the museum collection.
Admission fee The fee charged to enter a place.

Archive A place or collection containing records,

documents, or other materials of
historical interest.
Artifact An object made by a human being, of
cultural or historical interest.
Art film An art film is typically a serious,
independent film aimed at a niche
market rather than a mass
market audience.
Auction A sale opens to the general public and
conducted by an auctioneer, a person
empowered to conduct such a sale, at
which property is sold to the highest
bidder.
Collection A group of accumulated paintings,
documents, or artifacts grouped
together by a particular theme.
Conservator a person responsible for the repair and
preservation of things of cultural or
environmental interest, such as
buildings or works of art.
Curator A person who oversees and manages a
museum and its collections.
Docent/Guide A volunteer or paid staff person who
provides interpretation to visitors
through a guided tour, talk or
presentation.
Documentation The process of recording information
about items in your collection, including
what your objects are, where they came
from and how and where they are stored.

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Exhibit The localized grouping of objects and
interpretative materials that form a
cohesive unit within a gallery and relate a
message or idea.
Exhibition Exhibitions use a combination of objects,
text, graphics, interactives, and/or props
to create a physical space dedicated to
the exploration of specific themes,
messages, and ideas.
Gallery A non-commercial gallery displays works
of art in the same way that a museum
displays artefacts and specimens.
Inscriptions Inscriptions refer to any words, texts,
lettering, or symbols marked on a work,
especially those that are not an
intentional part of the image.
Manuscripts Historically, manuscripts were
handwritten documents often decorated
with gold or silver, brilliant colors,
designs, and/or miniature pictures.
Membership program A program that offers specific privileges,
perks, and discounts in exchange for
payment of dues or fees (usually
annually) as a charitable contribution.
Museum An institution that cares for a collection of
artefacts and other objects of scientific,
artistic, cultural, or historical importance
and makes them available for public
viewing through permanent or
temporary exhibitions.
Public art Art in any media whose form, function
and meaning are created for the general
public through a public process.
Showcase A setting in which something can be
displayed to best effect.
Tours Any type of tour of the exhibitions,
grounds, buildings, or surrounding area.
This includes school, self-guided, audio,
and guided tours.
Visitor services Facilities or services that provide comfort
to visitors, including assistive devices,

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 baby changing stations, checkrooms,
dining area/food service, first aid
stations, information desk, nursing areas,
restrooms, seating, signage, water
fountains, wheelchairs, and Wi-Fi access.
Volunteer An individual who offers time and service
to the museum for no salary or wage.

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Notes

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Notes

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Notes

55
Notes

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