Chairperson of Board of Trustees of the Qatar Museums Authority H E Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani is to lead a delegation to Paris along with the Vice-Chairman Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Museum of Islamic Art Abdulla Al Najjar, to brief the French media and cultural influencers on the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art planned for November 22. The private evening reception will be held at the Qatar Embassy in Paris. This comes as part of the media campaign, which started in New York last March when a presentation designed to shed light on the museum and its collection was given by Qatar Museum Authority to the American media. Qatar's Ambassador in France Mohammed Jaham Al Kuwari will officially welcome the guests to the embassy. "The opening of the Museum of Islamic Art is something we have all been anxiously awaiting. Qataris, whether living at home or abroad, feel much pride in this great building and superior collection. We are excited to share a part of our culture and heritage with the international community" he said. Al Najjar, who will be delivering the feature presentation, will share with the audience the vision of Qatar to become a global capital of culture. He will speak of the vision and mission of the Qatar Museums Authority and the important role the Museum of Islamic Art will play on an international level. "The Museum will be a centre for students, scholars and visitors from around the world to share in the history and culture of Islamic art," he said. Some images of works from the collection, which serve to further increase the excitement that has been building in anticipation of the Museum's opening, will be displayed. The collection comprises several thousand works dating from as early as the 7th century from countries around the globe. The Museum stands as an architectural masterpiece 60m off Doha's Corniche on an island made of reclaimed land. Pritzker Prize laureate, I M Pei, was commissioned to design the 35,500sqm Museum; inspiration for which he found in the 13th century sabil (ablutions fountain) of the 9th century Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt. The Peninsula

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