In celebration of International Museum Day, Mathaf invites to take part in a dynamic week-long program of cultural engagement, featuring interactive activities and a compelling series of panel discussions from 18 to 21 May, 2026.

Bringing together artists, educators, and cultural practitioners, the panel discussions will examine timely themes such as the evolving role of museums in contemporary society, the power of art and creativity in education, and the impact of women in shaping exhibitions and art institutions.

This special program creates a platform for critical dialogue, shared learning, and fresh perspectives, highlighting the vital role museums and the arts play in inspiring communities and shaping cultural conversations.

19 May 2026 - Panel discussion with:

-       Zeina Aradi

-       Julia Gonnella

-       Alfredo Cramerotti

Theme: Redefining the Museum Role, Identity, and Public Engagement

May 19, 2026 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Mathaf, Arab museum of Modern Art

Outline for the One-Hour Panel Discussion

The event presenter will begin by introducing the moderator and his biography to the audience. The moderator will then introduce the panelists and their biographies, provide an opening introduction, and open the discussion with the planned topics.

Panelists:

Dr. Bahaa Abudaya (Moderator):

Dr. Bahaa Abudaya is Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at AL RIWAQ, Qatar Museums. As a curator, he has organized major exhibitions in Doha and internationally, including Grey Times (Fire Station, Doha, 2021), Infinite Dimensions (Fire Station, Doha, 2019), alongside Articulating the Particular: Qatar Contemporary(Kraftwerk, Berlin, 2017), States of Transformation: Qatar Contemporary (Manege Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, 2018), and Pearls of Wonder, a Digital Era (Lavan541, New York, 2021; YUZ Museum and Art Field Nanhai, Guangdong, China, 2024). He previously held curatorial positions at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, and the Fire Station: Artist in Residence in Doha.

Alongside his curatorial practice, Dr. Abudaya lectures on Concepts and Issues of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, has taught Modernity and Political Art in the Arab World at Georgetown University in Qatar, and served as Visiting Professor of Middle Eastern Art History at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. His research focuses on Palestinian art, Arab modernity, and the intersections of art and politics. He is also an active writer and speaker, contributing essays, catalogues, and articles, and regularly moderating panels and leading masterclasses on curatorial practice.

He earned his Ph.D. in Art History and Aesthetics from Paris 8 University Saint-Denis, a Master’s in Cultural Management and the Science of Exhibitions from the Sorbonne, Paris, and a Certificate in Museum Curatorial Studies and Practices from the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP), Paris.

Zeina Arida:

Zeina Arida is the Director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. She has extensive experience in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors across the Arab world, with a specialized interest in photography, archives, and modern and contemporary art.

She holds a master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne University in Paris.

She previously served as the Director of the Sursock Museum in Beirut and was the Director of the Arab Image Foundation (AIF).

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM) in Marseille and serves on the Advisory Board of Darat al Funun in Amman. Additionally, she is a member of the Arab Image Foundation, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM).

Dr. Alfredo Cramerotti:

Dr. Alfredo Cramerotti is the Director the Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar. He is a scholar, curator, and cultural entrepreneur specializing in contemporary art, media, and digital culture, leading research and exhibitions that explore how media shapes cultural narratives today.

His work focuses on how curatorial practice evolves with technological advances, globalization, and digital transformation.

Dr. Cramerotti serves as President of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art (IKT) and chairs the Digital Strategies for the International Association of Art Critics (AICA). He also advises major cultural institutions like the British Council and the Italian Ministry of Culture.

His curatorial projects include major events such as Noor Riyadh, Art Dubai Digital, and several national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, including Malaysia, Mauritius, Maldives, and Wales. He has organized over 100 exhibitions during his leadership roles at Mostyn Museum and Derby QUAD in the UK.

An accomplished author, Dr. Cramerotti has published over 300 texts and five books. He is Editor in Chief of the Critical Photography book series (Intellect Books) and contributes widely to discussions on media, art, and curatorial studies.

Dr. Julia Gonnella

Dr. Julia Gonnella is the Director of the Lusail Museum and a scholar specializing in Islamic art and archaeology. She previously worked at the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, where she was responsible for overseeing numerous exhibitions and research initiatives. One of her primary focuses has been the Citadel of Aleppo, where she conducted extensive archaeological excavations for over a decade. Dr. Gonnella has authored and co-edited multiple books and exhibition catalogues. She has also shared her expertise through teaching positions at both the University of Berlin and the University of Bamberg.

After leaving Berlin's Museum of Islamic Art, Dr. Gonnella joined Qatar museums as the Director at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, where she leaded its recent relaunch and co-curated exhibitions including Baghdad: Eye's Delight and Syria Matters (2018).

Dr. Gonnella completed her academic training with a B.A. in Islamic Art and Archaeology and an M.A. in Social Anthropology from SOAS, University of London, before earning her Ph.D. from Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, Germany.