The Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Museum and the Knowledge Economy: From Private Collection to Public Domain

Abstract

This article discusses the newly emergent notion of the knowledge economy, which is an economy based on the arts and sciences, accompanied by an understanding of the role of knowledge in the development of the economy and human societies. The complex and multifaceted relationship between culture and the economy is comprehensively explored by examining a private museum, the Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Museum in Qatar (FQM), which is home to an extensive collection of art, artifacts, and cultural objects. Analyzing the practices of FQM helped explore the relationship between intellectual property and the knowledge economy. The article raises the following questions: To what extent can investment in cultural heritage and museums be considered a contribution to the knowledge economy? How important is the contribution of the private sector to the knowledge economy? The article further explores the role of the humanities and creative arts in the knowledge economy.