Yes, Cultural Institutions are Necessary.

Thursday 24th September 2026 11:00

This week the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) hosted one of its first Qatar Creates Talks with the Chairperson of Qatar Museums and the President of the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) on the value of cultural institutions and how they shape international affairs. In attendance were some of Qatar’s most prominent creatives and the brains working behind the art and culture scene in Doha and around the world.

I’ve previously been to events hosted by QC, QM, and other entities under the Chairperson’s office, and if I were to describe them in one word, I would say that they are intimate. Very intimate. Although the venue in this particular event was packed to the rim, I would still use the same word. Not to describe the quantity in the space but to comment on how everyone in that room was invested in the topic.

Cultural institutions are extensions of the state in many cases. Cultural representation is very political, and governments often decide what parts of their cultures they want to celebrate and showcase by choosing what and how to exhibit their cultural productions. This statement can also apply to Qatar and its cultural institutions, but by no means should this be seen as a negative trait. It was clear to me that Defiance was the overarching theme of the conversation. Defiance towards the “global” art and culture scene, against stereotypes, and against misrepresentation. Who gets to decide who is represented? Why let others speak for us? The status quo in the art world had to be challenged.

During the discussion HE Al-Mayassa bint Hamad went into the history of Qatar Museums. Although their projects could be seen by some as regular displays of art, they were built and nurtured to serve a wider purpose: making a name for ourselves, by ourselves. Having faced the scrutiny of the western media back when Qatar won the bid to host the world cup, it was quickly understood that there had to be cultural institutions that support local and regional cultural productions in order not to be misrepresented or have others speak on their behalf. Hence, Years of Culture was born.

Cultural representation is shaped by cultural productions that are nurtured by institutions. They don’t replace politics and international affairs, but when the tensions ease, culture stays. The Father Emir, may he rest in peace, understood this concept very well. Similar to the way Qatar found a vocation in mediation and dialogue in the political sphere, Qatar’s cultural institutions emulate those efforts in the cultural sphere by fostering partnerships, giving opportunities to artists, and ultimately, building the trust of the art community and gaining the credibility it has today.

We also got to hear from the President of the Institute of the Arab World in France, Anne-Claire Legendre. A former diplomat with a background in Comparative Literature, Legendre was enamored with the Arab world from a young age. She explained having experienced a full circle moment from being a student at the IMA two decades ago to becoming President this year. I saw this as an example of how bridging cultural and educational institutions can bring about a capable and more importantly homegrown workforce leading cultural institutions.

This is an issue that we have to seriously consider if we want to have a sustainable workforce. Indeed, foreign talents do bring in experience and skill, but the demand for locally nurtured talents must be the priority. After all, we all saw how a concerning number of projects and teams were abandoned when our days consisted of missile threats. Given the above, I look back to the available options for young individuals who want to go into cultural institutions and find that the opportunities for an education in literature, museums, or foreign languages are unfortunately scarce.

The bottom line here is YES; cultural institutions are necessary. This enlightening conversation between the Chairperson of Qatar Museums and the President of the IMA showed us the many realms in which cultural diplomacy is enacted and needed but also raised important questions and concerns for the future of these institutions, especially in Qatar. I personally enjoyed this conversation, and hope for more fruitful dialogues in the future.