Islamic-Travel-Newswire.com:  Qatar Museums Authority has launched its promotion and marketing campaign for the grand official opening of the Museum of Islamic Art on November 22, under the patronage of the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Presenting the museum as one of the most important archaeological and cultural landmarks due to its distinguished design and collections, the campaign focuses on the museum being a platform of international cultural dialogue and a centre of creative and innovative activities.

 The museum is described as the cultural front of Qatar which works for the revival of Islamic civilization and presenting it to the world in a modern and stylish way. Through its co-operation and partnerships with outstanding international museums, the Museum of Islamic Art aims to transform Doha to a global cultural capital.

"The grand opening of the Museum of Islamic Art will be a distinctive mark in the history of Qatar, as it forms a basic centre for showing the Islamic art and culture to the world," Gulf Times reported quoting chief executive officer and president of the museum Abdullah Al Najjar. The opening will be attended by distinguished political and academic guests from around the world. Al-Najjar described the museum as a permanent platform for dialogue and cultural and art exchange. Various activities and events will be hosted in its cultural wing in the first week immediately after the official opening. "The public will be able to enjoy the exquisite beauty of the museum and its unique collection from December 1, taking them on a journey through the deep-rooted past," he explained.

There will be a panel of discussion on November 23 about the details of the museum building and its design. Architect I M Pei will discuss for the first time his long journey to different Islamic landmarks around the world, as well as why he chose the museum location and materials used in the building. The ‘Beyond Boundaries-Islamic Art Conference' exhibition on November 24 and 25 opens exclusively to Islamic art experts, accredited academics and VIP guests from around the world. The three-stage promotion campaign for the museum involves advertisements in different areas in Qatar, including a large hoarding at Al Waab signals.

The first stage, before the opening of the museum, is aimed at promoting the goals and concept of the Museum of Islamic Art. The second stage is to present the museum as one of the most important sites in the Islamic world targeting the revival of Islamic art. "After the opening, the galleries will attract the public to enjoy the treasures, collected from three continents throughout past centuries speaking about the Islamic civilisation around the world," Al Najjar said.

Many seminars, workshops and symposiums in painting, sculpture, photography and beautiful arts will be held. The museum will also be an international educational institution and a centre of information through its education wing and rich library. The 35,500 sq. m museum stands as an architectural masterpiece 60m off Doha's Corniche on a man-made island. The stone-clad structure is composed of a five-storey main building and a two-storey Education Wing, which are connected across a central courtyard. The different galleries include a widely diverse collection of unique and precious artifacts and monuments.