Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Museums (QM), in collaboration with the International Committee for Museology (ICOFOM) and the Arab Organization of Museums (ICOM Arab), successfully concluded the Future of Museums and Museology Practices in a Changing World conference on December 3, at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
The three-day event starting from December 1 to 3, brought together global experts, scholars, and practitioners to explore innovative and sustainable approaches to museology in response to the rapidly evolving global landscape.
The conference was inaugurated by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, and Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, along with other esteemed delegates. Their opening remarks emphasised Qatar Museums’ commitment to driving global conversations and advancing innovation within the cultural sector.
The event featured multiple panel sessions, workshops, and cultural activities that addressed pressing topics such as sustainability, inclusivity, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and the integration of new technologies in museums.
The conference featured esteemed speakers such as Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla, director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum; Alberto Garlandini, a renowned museologist and former president of ICOM; Alissandra Cummins, director of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society; Dr. Fatema Hassan Al Sulaiti, director of International Cooperation & Government Affairs, Qatar Museums; and Prof. Karen Brown, ICOFOM chair, to name a few.
Key panels included The Future of Museology in a Changing World, where global leaders discussed the evolving role of museums in light of rapid changes. Speakers shared insights on sustainability, covering growth, limits, and tipping points across regions. The discussion also highlighted museums effectively addressing climate change and other global challenges, offering practical solutions for the sector’s future.
Other sessions examined The Future of Museums Through Good Practice, highlighting successful initiatives across regions, and The Future of Museums Through Resilience and Accessibility, addressing global challenges and aligning with the United Nations Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session The Future of Museums Through Technology and Innovation explored cutting-edge advancements and their impact on museum practices.
The conference concluded with Rapid Reflections and Quick-Fire Ideas for Shaping the Future of Museology, an engaging ICOFOM-led session featuring fourteen speakers from the Arab region and beyond. Using a dynamic "quick-fire” format, participants shared concise, innovative ideas, sparking lively discussions and fresh insights into the future of museology.
The conference reaffirmed the critical role of museums in addressing global challenges, cultivating inclusive narratives, and promoting innovation. By facilitating vibrant exchanges of ideas and practices, the event has laid a strong foundation for a sustainable and resilient future for museology worldwide.