The first museum in the Arab world dedicated to the exploration of media, journalism, and communication content will make its home at Northwestern University in Qatar in the fall of 2018.
The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar will be the first university museum in Qatar, and will be open to the general public. With a focus on the Arab world, the museum will host two exhibitions each year addressing major themes and ideas that are pertinent to the region.
The museum features extensive digital-capacity creating exhibitions where visitors can participate through interactive commentary and engagement. Along with digital content shared using a number of different technologies, objects and other physical content feature to explore stories from multiple perspectives.
“The purpose of The Media Majlis – its exhibitions, programs, and other endeavors – is the exploration, discussion and interrogation of media, journalism, and communication’s pasts presents and futures through global, regional, and local lenses,” said Everette E. Dennis, dean and CEO. “It will give visitors a chance to engage in a variety of narrative threads across eras and geography and contribute their thoughts and ideas to them.”
The museum will be accessible for NU-Q students and faculty to use as an active learning and research space. The media content and themes of the exhibitions support subjects, ideas, and events studied at NU-Q, giving students a unique learning environment and a chance to learn from professionals and thought-leaders.
“Aside from the biannual exhibitions, the Media Majlis will organize a number of engagements and programs for visitors to join in the discussions of ideas and thought-provoking concepts discussed throughout exhibitions, as well as a chance to learn from professionals in media industries, creatives, and researchers,” said Pamela Erskine-Loftus, director of the museum.
A series of programs that include workshops, screenings, panel discussions, and talks with artists and media influencers will accompany each exhibition. All events will be open to the public and subject to the availability of tickets. The hope is that the museum will become a destination for international visitors and local citizens as well as students, scholars and media professionals.
The inaugural exhibition is scheduled to open during the 2018-19 academic year. The exhibition, Arab Identity, images in film, will explore the deep and complicated meanings of identity, as well as the ideas and connections that influence people’s understanding of that theme. The exhibition will explore films from the 1880s that present, interpret, reflect, and impact people’s understanding of Arab identities.
