IKT Congress 2025: Qatar / UAE
8 - 14 April
The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar co-hosted the 53rd annual congress of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art (IKT) from April 8–14, 2025, in collaboration with the New York University Abu Dhabi Art Galleries marking the event’s first-ever edition in the Gulf region. The congress brought 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 began in Doha at Northwestern Qatar (April 8–10) before moving to Abu Dhabi (April 11–12), Dubai (April 13), and Sharjah (April 14). Participants engaged in a curated series of exhibitions, symposiums, studio visits, and guided tours, which together offered a rare opportunity for collaboration and dialogue among the curatorial delegates and the region’s foremost art institutions and professionals.
As part of the Doha programming, the Media Majlis Museum hosted a two-part symposium titled “Disrupture: Perspectives from the Arabian Peninsula,” examining how curators, artists, and institutions in the Gulf contributed to contemporary discourse. Dean Kraidy delivered 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, explored 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 shared 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, examined shifting approaches to curation. Featuring speakers Tirdad Zolghadr, Nadine Khalil, Effat Fadag, Holiday Powers, and Miguel Blanco-Carrasco, the discussion explored new curatorial methodologies and the changing relationship between museums, artists, and audiences.
The second half of the symposium opened in the UAE at NYU Abu Dhabi, welcoming the 90 international curators for a series of conversations, collaborations, and critical reflections on the UAE’s fast-evolving cultural landscape. The day began with a keynote address by Her Excellency Manal Ataya, museums advisor to the Sharjah Museums Authority, followed by a series of rapid-fire case studies featuring leaders from across the UAE’s cultural sector.
Speakers included Salwa Mikdadi, director of Al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art; Bana Kattan, curator at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Stephanie Rosenthal, project director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Vilma Jurkute, executive director of Alserkal Initiatives; Munira Al Sayegh, founder of Dirwaza Lab; and Pradeep Sharma, director of arts, culture and heritage for the Salaman Foundation, as well as 18 leaders of the UAE cultural sector. The conversations explored how curators in the UAE are rethinking institutional models, forging new forms of collaboration, and expanding the role of art in public life.
IKT Congress 2025 would not have been possible without the support of the following partners: 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, Barjeel Art Foundation, Maraya Art Center, and MIZA.
IKT CONGRESS 2025 VISUAL RECAP
Thank you to everyone who joined us for IKT Congress 2025.
This selection of photos captures key moments from the Congress — from insightful talks and guided tours to informal gatherings and shared conversations. It offers a visual overview of the people, places, and experiences that defined this year’s event.
Whether you attended in person or are catching up from afar, we hope this recap brings to life the spirit and energy of IKT Congress 2025.
