Curatorview [Alfredo Cramerotti]

Doha, Qatar – April 7, 2025  – The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar and NYU Abu Dhabi are set to host the 53rd annual congress of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art (IKT) from April 8–14, 2025, marking the event’s first-ever edition in the Gulf region. The congress will bring together curators, museum directors, and leading figures in contemporary art for a dynamic exchange of ideas on curation, digital innovation, and artistic practice.

The weeklong program will begin in Doha at Northwestern Qatar (April 8–10) before moving to Abu Dhabi (April 11–12), Dubai (April 13), and Sharjah (April 14). Participants will engage in a curated series of exhibitions, symposiums, discussions, and guided tours, offering a rare opportunity for collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue among the region’s foremost art institutions and professionals. 

“We are excited to bring the IKT Congress to the Gulf for the first time and to co-host part of this important gathering on campus,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and this partnership creates new opportunities for curators, scholars, and artists to exchange ideas and engage with our community. It’s an opportunity to facilitate local and global conversations in contemporary art and curation, and we look forward to the meaningful discussions it will spark.”

The Doha program will feature a symposium titled “Disrupture: Perspectives from the Arabian Peninsula,” examining how curators, artists, and institutions in the Gulf contribute to contemporary discourse. Dean Kraidy will deliver the opening remarks, followed by a keynote address, “Beyond Center and Periphery,” by artist Oraib Toukan, and two panel discussions, each offering diverse perspectives on contemporary curation. 

The first panel, “Museums in the Making,” chaired by Zeina Arida, director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, will explore the development of museum spaces and their impact on artistic and cultural engagement. Panelists Sheikha Alanood Al Thani, Lina Ramadan, Meriam Berrada, and Caroline Hancock will share insights on institutional growth and innovation. 

The second panel, Unlearning and Relearning, led by Alfredo Cramerotti, director of The Media Majlis Museum and IKT president, will examine shifting approaches to curation. Featuring speakers Tirdad Zolghadr, Nadine Khalil, Effat Fadag, Holiday Powers, and Miguel Blanco-Carrasco, the discussion will explore new curatorial methodologies and the changing relationship between museums, artists, and audiences.

Cramerotti underscored the significance of the event, saying, “Art, curating knowledge, and interdisciplinarity are at the core of the Media Majlis Museum. It’s an honor to explore these topics in the Gulf context with esteemed guests and international curators.” He added, “The IKT Congress 2025 offers a valuable platform for gaining new perspectives and addressing critical issues central to our museum’s work and exhibitions. This event presents a significant opportunity for growth, and we’re proud to be part of it, hosted in Doha at Northwestern University in Qatar in partnership with Qatar Museums, as well as in the UAE, hosted by NYU Abu Dhabi alongside key cultural institutions across three major cities.”

Moving to Abu Dhabi, the symposium will continue with a keynote address titled “Museum Booms and Micro-ecologies,” presented by Mana Ataya, museums advisor to the Sharjah Museums Authority. The symposium will feature a segment of rapid-fire case studies featuring well-renowned personalities, including Salwa Mikdadi; founder of Al Mawrid; Bana Kattan, curator at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Stephanie Rosenthal, director at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project; Vilma Jurkute, executive director of Alserkal Initiatives; and Pradeep Sharma, director of arts, culture and heritage at Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. 

Maya Allison, executive director of The Art Gallery and Chief Curator at NYU Abu Dhabi, endorses the concept of IKT expanding into the MENA region and shares, “Contemporary art curators play a key role in identifying and shaping conversations that define our cultural landscapes. By hosting part of the IKT Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, we are continuing and expanding the region’s dialogue with global discourses, and investigating the ways in which art is contextualized, exhibited, and understood. The Gulf has long been a place of artistic experimentation, and this gathering is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the unique forces that shape contemporary art here, both within and beyond institutional spaces.”

The Media Majlis Museum reflects Northwestern Qatar’s commitment to holistic education by advancing cultural exchange through exhibitions that blend scholarship, art, and media. Through its partnership with the IKT Congress, it advances the university’s academic mission by connecting contemporary art with local and global communities, amplifying the museum’s impact, and promoting engagement and critical discussions on pressing global and regional issues.

The museum extends a sincere appreciation to its partners for their support of the IKT Congress 2025, including Qatar Museums’ Fire Station Gallery, Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, and Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art, as well as Alserkal Avenue, BLR World and Barker Langham, Italian Cultural Institute Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Art Foundation, Warehouse 421, Barjeel Art Foundation, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Jameel Art Centre and Jameel Arts, Ishara Art Foundation & Prabhakar Collection, Maraya Art Center, and MIZA.