(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) celebrates a half-century of defining the nation's cultural identity with the launch of a major retrospective exhibition, 'A Nation's Legacy, A People's Memory: Fifty Years Told'.

According to Qatar Museums, this landmark survey is designed to blend heritage with innovation, using modern art, historic documents, and immersive installations to illustrate how the institution became a crucial mirror of Qatar's collective memory and national pride.

The exhibition, which offers a comprehensive and chronological exploration of the museum's origin, growth, and evolution, will be on view at the historic Old Palace from October 24 to February 7, 2026. It traces NMoQ's journey from its visionary founding in 1975 as the first national museum in the region to its bold reinvention in 2019, housed in the iconic, desert rose-inspired structure designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

Speaking to reporters at a press preview yesterday (October 23), Dr Abdullah Mohammed al-Sulaiti, deputy director of Research and Collections at NMoQ, stressed that a primary goal of the exhibition is to highlight the museum's history, countering the perception that its story began with the unveiling of the new building.

“Most of the people thought that the museum is just a new building which is what they see it now... But we want to highlight that this museum is older than 2019; it was built in 1975,” he said, noting that the exhibition dedicates significant attention to the visionaries behind the institution's earliest days.

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The exhibition offers a comprehensive and chronological exploration of NMOQ's origin, growth, and evolution.

Dr al-Sulaiti said 'A Nation's Legacy, A People's Memory: Fifty Years Told' spotlights the planning developed by the Michael Rice company and focuses on the key moment the museum was officially opened in 1975 by His Highness the late Amir, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani. He added that the museum's original home, the Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Palace, is celebrated as a symbol of Qatar's foundational commitment to culture and heritage.

He said the exhibition highlights key events across the five decades, covering the museum's closure in 2004 and the 2019 reopening. The curatorial approach masterfully blends historic artifacts with cutting-edge technology to illustrate this evolution.

Visitors will encounter archival material such as a plaque commemorating the opening of the Qatar National Museum in 1975, and a historical portrait of Sheikh Khalifa captured on positive slide film. It features recreations of original beloved pieces, such as the Earth Dome, presented with modern interpretations that underscore the continuity of NMoQ's mission.

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Archives, photographs, documents and personal stories highlight the museum's impact on Qatar's culture and identity.

The Sheikh Abdulla bin Jassim al-Thani's Old Palace is transformed into a“living archive” via a multi-channel video installation, creating a compelling“dialogue between memory and modernity” within the historic walls.

The survey also embraces contemporary Qatari artists who reflect on national identity and transformation. This includes specific artwork by Shouq Almana and immersive installations by Yousef Fakhroo, whose piece Echoes of Time aims to provide visitors with an experiential journey connecting Qatar's past, present, and future.

Dr al-Sulaiti stressed that the 50-year anniversary represents a pivotal moment for reflection on past achievements, celebration of the museum's evolution, and anticipation of future cultural innovations that will further elevate Qatar's standing on the global stage.

He added that the survey also underlines the museum's role in offering audiences of all ages a chance to reflect on Qatar's identity and heritage.

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