Qatari cultural projects slammed by local children

DOHA: The past few years have seen Qatar emerge as the Middle East’s cultural juggernaut, an achievement underlined with the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art, the Arab Museum of Modern Art and the upcoming Islamic Arab Art of Modern Museums. But the multi-million riyal projects haven’t impressed all residents.

“They’re really really boring,” was the slamming judgment of six-year old Fatima O’Reilly, who took part in an extensive survey undertaken by The Pan-Arabia Enquirer. “I’d prefer to listen to Justin Bieber or watch Dora the Explorer,” she continued.

Five-year-old Ismail Suleiman echoed Fatima’s view.

“I couldn’t care less about Mathaf’s current exhibition curated by Chinese contemporary art luminary Cai Guo-Qiang, or the Museum of Islamic Arts’ extensive collection of artifacts from across the Muslim world,” he said, adding that he preferred stickers, face paint and crisps, but not salt and vinegar flavoured, because they’re “yucky”.

Similar opinions were voiced across Doha’s numerous playgrounds and nurseries, where a shocking ninety-nine per cent of those questioned said they would rather eat a McDonald’s Happy Meal than visit one of the city’s museums. It is believed that the one per cent who opted for the museums simply didn’t understand the question.

Perhaps the most fiercely critical analysis of Qatar’s cultural efforts came from British expat Sally Webster. When asked whether she was excited about Qatar’s $250 million purchase of Cezanne’s The Card Players, the four-year old dropped her ice cream on the floor and started crying.

“This is terrible news,” said a spokesman from the Qatari Ministry for Culture Acquisition regarding the report. “Our children are an important sector of society and should not feel excluded from the immense cultural vision of the country.”

A source added that the Ministry was now looking into the logistics of adding food courts, video arcades and play areas to the museums.