Tribune News Network
Doha
‘INTERCOM Doha 2023: The Future Museum - Framing the Skills and Mindsets of the Visionary Leader Conference’ has concluded at the National Museum of Qatar.
Hosted by ICOM Qatar and organised by ICOM-INTERCOM in partnership with Qatar Museums, and in collaboration with CIMAM, ICOM SEE, and ICOM Croatia, the conference has brought together industry leaders from all over the world, including museum directors, curators, educators, researchers, and communications professionals to share new ideas, knowledge, and expertise in the field of museums.
The conference, which took place over three days, delved into the future of museum practices in the digital age and examined the potential of new museums and ideas to shape the museum landscape in the Arab world and beyond.
Key topics, such as the implementing of effective governance and leadership models in regional museums, and the advantages of cross-cultural exchange and collaboration in advancing museum practices were at the forefront of the discussions.
The first day of the event was divided into two informative sessions. The topic of the first session was ‘Profiling the Leader: Key Skills and Future Mindsets of the Museum Leader’, which included talks from John Wetenhall from The George Washington University Museum, USA, entitled Charging for Charity, and Anne-Marie Gilis of KU Leuven in Belgium about Qatar’s rising museum scene. Session two – ‘Museums as Platforms of Behavioural Change for Societal Challenges’ – was introduced with a keynote from Prof. Dr. Pier Luigi Sacco, Professor of Economics at University of Chieti-Pescara, Senior Adviser to the OECD, Paris, and Research Affiliate at the metaLAB (at) Harvard.
The second day of the conference followed the theme of ‘Visions for the Future: A Cross-Cultural Exchange’. A highlight of the session was the introductory keynote from Dr. Desmond Hui - Professor and Head of Department of Art and Design at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, who emphasised the importance of investing in resources to develop the digital capacity of museums, in order to establish a sustainable future for cultural institutions worldwide.
In the conference’s closing day, discussions were organised into four round table discussions, giving participants the opportunity to engage in open and collaborative dialogue. These were: Museum Leadership across MENA, Museums and Society, Museum Audiences & Cultural Leadership, and New Museums and New Ideas. Key themes were national identity, the creation of future museums, museum audiences, cultural leadership, transformational leadership, innovation in museum leadership, and digital transformation.
Commenting on the conference, Dr Fatima Al Sulaiti, Director of International Cooperation and Governmental Affairs at Qatar Museums said: "The conference has reinforced the critical role of effective museum leadership and highlighted the essential skills and mindsets needed for future leaders. It has also highlighted how museums can be a vital source of inspiration for innovation in various fields and has provided valuable insights into the significance of museums in promoting societal awareness and public education.
"The conference has been a great success in achieving its main aim of providing a platform for leaders, experts, and stakeholders to share their knowledge, best practices, and experiences to shape the future of museums in the MENA region and beyond.”
INTERCOM Doha 2023 comes in tandem with the appointment of a new ICOM Doha Committee, a council which is committed to promoting and advancing the museum industry in Qatar and the region. Led by Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz Al Thani, the formation of this council marks a significant step towards strengthening Qatar’s position in the field of museums on an international scale.