WHAT IS BARAHA SOUQ?

National Museum of Qatar’s new artisan market Baraha Souq unites culture, community, and creativity. 

This November, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) will take the community back to the roots of traditional Arabian courtyards by welcoming visitors to Baraha Souq. Opening Friday 22 November, Baraha Souq is set to be a vibrant artisan market that takes place every other weekend. The market has been carefully curated to showcase and support local makers and food producers and provide a welcoming stage for cultural engagement.

Baraha Souq enables the Baraha area of NMoQ to follow its time-honoured custom of being a place where traders and travellers meet to sell goods. People can browse and buy locally designed and made art, jewellery, fashion and accessories, wellness products, homeware, speciality coffee, and food — including local date products. Visitors can also discover more about Qatar’s traditions and customs, with a range of activities that offer fun, immersive experiences.

Baraha Souq Heritage

Ahmad Al Namla, Acting CEO of Qatar Museums, commented: “The preservation of cultural heritage forms a key pillar in Qatar Museums’ mission of creating a strong cultural sector within the country. By launching Initiatives such as the Baraha Souq, we are helping put local communities, young and old, in touch with their past, reminding them of the skills, wisdom, and struggles of their ancestors. We hope that today’s entrepreneurs can find inspiration in the traditional Arabic courtyards of yesterday.”

Baraha Souq is operated by IN-Q Enterprises in partnership with Torba Markets, founders of the successful Torba Farmers’ Market. IN-Q Enterprises is the commercial arm of Qatar Museums (QM) and works to enable QM to achieve its vision: to cultivate artists and creative networks, and promote and sustain the highest standards for community engagement, creativity, and enjoyment in Qatar and beyond.

Baraha Souq Artisan

Philip Lawrie, General Manager of IN-Q Enterprises, commented: “Baraha Souq provides local artisans and food producers with the opportunity to bring their products to a wider audience. Visitors can buy unique products that are handcrafted in Qatar. They can meet the makers, support their development, and experience a closer connection to the country’s people and place.”

16 The new National Museum of Qatar designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel with ALFA 2019 by Jean Michel Othoniel Martin Argyroglo

The Museum Souq opens from Friday 22 November 2019 running through to May 2020. Initially the market will be open every second Friday and Saturday, increasing in frequency in the coming months. Opening times are Fridays from 2 pm – 7 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am – 7 pm. Local brands and artisans can make inquiries about stalls via email: [email protected]

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