Hundreds register for National Museum tours in first week

More than 1,400 people in the country have registered for a chance to visit and explore the National Museum of Qatar through public tours organised by Qatar Museums (QM). Open to Culture Pass members who sign up online, QM has scheduled a total of 50 tours, which started last week and will continue until August 21.

The tours aim to offer the public an opportunity to see a glimpse of the iconic building before its finishing touches start by the end of this year.“The interest we saw from the people of Qatar in visiting the National Museum has been tremendous, which speaks of the museum’s role in uniting the people of Qatar around our shared history and identity,” QM’s chief strategic planning office Khalid al-Ibrahim said in a statement.

Views of the interiorThe series of tours drew positive reactions from visitors as they go through the building’s “sloping galleries and striking enclosures”, he added.The museum’s interlocking discs are inspired by the desert rose and evoke the life of the Qatari people between the desert and the sea.“It has been inspirational to walk through the museum’s galleries and experience their beauty along with huge numbers of people of all backgrounds and nationalities who have made Qatar their home,” al-Ibrahim said.“With the focus soon shifting to the next phase of the museum’s development, we hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity to experience a ‘sneak preview’ of the building’s unique design,” he noted.According to QM, the new museum will combine historic objects and contemporary influences, showcasing the country’s recent history and telling the entire story of Qatar from its traditional and historical past to the country’s development into a thriving modern state.Innovative presentation techniques will excite audiences and push boundaries by utilising the museum’s unique space in unexpected ways.“Exhibits will capture the beauty of the country’s oral history and traditions,” QM pointed out, adding that it would also offer rich and varied experiences to many different audiences.The 50 public tours put an end to the external works on the museum and signals the start on the internal works, al-Ibrahim said.Once completed, he disclosed that a series of programmes for families and children would take place within the museum.“The museum’s landscaped gardens will also play a major role in telling the story of Qatar, offering children and families a memorable educational experience before they step foot inside the building,” QM added.Residents can sign up for QM’s Culture Pass programme by visiting its website, http://www.qm.org.qa/en/culturepass