Qatar Museums (QM) and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) have entered into a five-year strategic partnership aimed at expanding museum-based educational programmes for children and educators in India and Qatar. The agreement was signed by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, and Isha Ambani of Mumbai-based Reliance Industries, marking a significant cross-cultural collaboration in early childhood education and creative learning.
The partnership will establish a series of Museum-in-Residence educational programmes across both countries, focusing on playful, experiential learning approaches rooted in museum practices. While the initiatives are designed primarily for young learners, they also aim to equip teachers, volunteers and facilitators with new pedagogical tools to encourage creativity and innovation in classrooms and community spaces.
The signing ceremony took place at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha, underscoring the cultural dimension of the collaboration. According to the institutions, the programmes are being jointly developed around a shared belief in the role of education and cultural exchange in nurturing creativity, empathy and confidence among children from an early age.
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said the partnership reflects a long-standing commitment to cultural dialogue and education. “Qatar Museums and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre share the belief that creativity and cultural exchange are key to shaping a new generation of confident, empathetic young learners,” she said. Referring to the collaboration as a legacy of Qatar’s Year of Culture with India, she added that Qatar Museums would contribute its expertise and experience to help extend the reach of educational programmes into classrooms across India.
In India, NMACC will work closely with the Reliance Foundation to implement the programmes across multiple regions. The initiative will be guided by specialists from Qatar Museums, including experts from Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, who will conduct masterclasses and provide hands-on mentoring. Each programme will be adapted to local learning contexts, with the aim of making museum-based education accessible across diverse cultural and socio-economic settings.
Isha Ambani described the partnership as a step towards creating meaningful educational experiences for children. “We are pleased to partner with Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Qatar Museums on this meaningful collaboration focused on children and education,” she said. Emphasising the shared philosophy of both institutions, she added, “Both Qatar Museums and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre believe that culture is where imagination begins, and education is where potential becomes real. Through this partnership, we aim to spark new forms of learning that empower every child to dream boldly and to learn confidently.”
Beyond museum spaces, the collaboration will extend into schools, anganwadis and community centres across India, including rural and underserved regions. The partners said additional initiatives focused on creativity, empathy and discovery will be developed as part of the broader engagement.
Maha Al Hajri, acting director of Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, said the collaboration would bring Dadu’s learning-through-play philosophy to new audiences. “We are proud to launch this collaboration as part of Dadu’s Museum-in-Residence programme, bringing the Light Atelier to new audiences in India,” she said. Designed for children aged three to seven, the Light Atelier offers immersive, hands-on learning environments that encourage exploration and sensory engagement. Al Hajri noted that the programme allows Dadu to share its approach beyond museum walls while fostering meaningful cultural exchange.
The partnership aligns with Qatar Museums’ broader commitment to education and cultural exchange and reflects the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasises investment in human and cultural development. For NMACC, the initiative reinforces its mission to integrate global ideas into Indian cultural and educational contexts while expanding access to creative learning nationwide.
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