Qatar Museums (QM) has closed all its museums and heritage sites to visitors until further notice and cancelled a number of initiatives and activities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), it was announced on Thursday.

"At Qatar Museums, the health and safety of our visitors and staff is of the utmost importance. Additionally, all museum shops, cafés and restaurants and the National Museum of Qatar playground will be closed.

"The museums include: National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Islamic Art, Fire Station.

"The following initiatives are also cancelled until further notice: MIA Bazaar and NMoQ Baraha Bazaar, school visits, workshops, lectures, tours and educational programming, public events.

"Due to the evolving nature of the situation, we will continue to review and revise our plans and processes and follow guidance from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). We will keep you updated on further developments.

"We thank the public for their understanding in these challenging times and look forward to welcoming visitors at our museums in the future," the QM statement added.

QM also cancelled the Picasso’s Studios media preview on Saturday (March 14), at the Garage Gallery of Fire Station. The exhibition, which forms part of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture, is scheduled to showcase dozens of works by Pablo Picasso, on exceptional loan from the Musée National Picasso in Paris. Marchitecture, a QM initiative dedicated to architecture and urban design, was also cancelled.

Various organisations have postponed or cancelled their upcoming events to help fight the spread of Covid-19.


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