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Doha
Msheireb Museums celebrated the Qatar British Festival 2018 with a panel debate on the discovery of oil in Qatar and how it transformed people’s lives and the economy.
The talks also covered the partnership between Qatar and British authorities in granting concessions for oil production and building infrastructure for education and healthcare.
The discussion was delivered by Mohammed Ali Abdullah, Gulf heritage and restoration expert; and Aisha Ahmed al Asiri al Maadheed, PhD in Architecture and Urban Planning Candidate, Qatar University’. The session was chaired by Prof Robert Carter, professor of Arabian & Middle Eastern archaeology, UCL Qatar.
The panel described the process of national transformation in the early decades of oil and illustrated it with examples of material legacy, including objects derived from archaeological excavations as well as buildings and architectural features.
Hafiz Ali, director of Msheireb Museums, said: “The panel discussion is a great example of mutual understanding between Qatar and the UK. This event is an opportunity to explore the historical links between the two nations through the eyes of experts and academics.”
Sam Ayton, country director, British Council, said: “The Qatar British Festival is all about connecting cultures, histories and people, while ensuring our audiences have fun and the opportunity to learn something new. We wanted to provide people with the opportunity to explore the long and complex historical links between Qatar and the UK. These conversations and events are important for continuing to build greater trust and understanding between people in Qatar and the UK.”
After the discussion, the audiences were invited to the private view of the ‘Company House’ Museum, which features beautiful objects from the 1940s. A guided tour by professionals from Msheireb Museums helped the audience to link people’s stories with tangible objects and pictures from the time.
Prof Robert Carter, professorial research fellow and research lead at UCL Qatar, said: “The lives of Qatar’s inhabitants were completely transformed by the discovery of oil. Collaboration between the British and Qataris was critical to the development of the industry, and much of this activity was coordinated from the Company House, where the work of Qatar’s oil pioneers has been documented by Msheireb Museums.”
The Qatar British Festival runs from November 27 to December 12 and is organised by the British Council in partnership with the British Embassy. This year it features a variety of events including public art and films and musical performances, offering something for everyone.
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13/12/2018
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