A poster promoting the ‘Backstage’ exhibition.
Students of the Museum and Gallery Practice Master’s Degree programme at University College London Qatar (UCL Qatar) are curating an exhibition to run at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) from May 1 to June 2.
As part of the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture celebrations, the exhibition, named “Backstage”, explores the work that goes on behind the scenes in a museum.
Utilising stunning examples of Iznik pottery from the Museum of Islamic Art’s collections, the exhibition conveys the work of archaeologists, conservators and curators, disciplines that are unfamiliar to many museum goers.
The exhibition reveals how experts in these disciplines help people understand objects in museum collections and how they influence the way in which objects are displayed and interpreted.
The exhibition aims to foster enthusiasm for museums and encourage a younger generation to develop a career in this area.
Efstathios Doganis, one of the students at the UCL Qatar programme, said: “The process of curating this exhibition, where each student on the course has had to take on a different role, from marketing or outreach to production and design, has been challenging, but equally enjoyable and a fantastic learning experience. We hope the public will come along to see the finished product.”
Each student is undertaking the key role of a museum professional in order to develop the project.
Fifteen students from Qatar, the UK, Jordan, Greece, Germany, and Pakistan have worked together developing the exhibition from the initial concept through design and implementation stages.
