In their inspiring DLD26 conversation, Sheikha Al Mayassa, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, and renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Galleries) explore how art can serve as a powerful diplomatic tool and deepen mutual understanding across borders.
“We’ve had a consistent long-term vision, which was always about investing in culture as a means of developing human development”, Sheika Al Mayassa says. “Our strategy was always about how do we develop our petrochemical economy into a knowledge-based economy.”
This master plan has resulted in architectural landmarks like the Jean Nouvel-designed National Museum of Qatar – inspired by the desert rose – and the Fire Station art school, which cultivates local talent and empowers artists from the Global South to take on leading institutional roles.
Watch the video to explore this session in detail. You can also find edited excerpts in issue no. 4 of DLD’s magazine The Promptah.




