Major Projects
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Diriyah, on the outskirts of Riyadh, is the birthplace of the Saudi state and home to the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif District. Known for its mud-brick architecture and rich heritage, Diriyah was once the capital of the first Saudi dynasty.
Scope:
Leading the cultural vision, placemaking and cultural asset development strategy for 30+ cultural assets
Developing the heritage-led master planning strategy for Historic Diriyah
Leading the archaeology, conservation and heritage rehabilitation strategy
Managing stakeholder engagement at government level
UNESCO Pakistan
Redevelopment of Lahore and Taxila Museums, Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth Project (PTEGP).
Supporting integration of museums into the tourism development strategy
Maximising the potential of collections for socio-economic and cultural benefit
Creating budgeted museum development strategies, policies and management plans, training and capacity building
Stakeholder management (Pakistan Ministry of Tourism, UNESCO Pakistan)
Advisor, Women’s Museum, Pakistan
Doha, Qatar
Designed by Ateliers Jean Novel, the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) gives voice to Qatar’s rich heritage and culture, welcoming diverse communities to its vibrant and immersive space to experience Qatar’s past, present and future.
Scope - leading on overall project delivery, including:
Creative experiences: artworks, landscape, bespoke play experiences, art films by leading international artists and film directors
Design development and procurement strategy for museography and interior fit out
Launch and operational planning
Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Lusail will be dedicated to the influence of Middle Eastern and Islamic art on the wider world. The four-story building will span 559,700 square feet and will include exhibition space, an auditorium, library, and educational hubs.
Scope:
Leading the development strategy within the Lusail masterplan
Museography development: narrative, content, research, collections
Business and operational planning, resourcing, training, branding, and strategic communication
United Kingdom
Successful delivery of a Heritage Lottery Funded gallery redevelopment projects:
The Manchester Museum: Ancient Worlds Galleries
Durham University Oriental Museum: China Gallery
Advisory
Strategic guidance and subject-specialist research for cultural projects in the US and Middle East
Business intelligence and corporate change management for cultural organisation growth
Operational and organisational strategies for new cultural institutions
Delivery roadmaps for new cultural projects
Cultural and heritage master planning
Museography and exhibition development
Academic
Programme Director, MA in Museum and Gallery Practice, UCL Qatar
Lead Principal Investigator (2015-2019): National Museums and the Public Imagination: A Longitudinal Study of the National Museum of Qatar ($900, 000 awarded by the Qatar National Research Fund)
Principal Investigator (2014-2016): Museums in the 21st Century and Global Art History: Building Knowledge Base through Online Resources in Qatar ($300,000 awarded by the Qatar National Research Fund in May 2014)
Advisory Board Member, Cultural Flagships: Pathways, Practices and Politics of a Global Urban Type
Senior Curator, Egypt and Sudan, The Manchester Museum, University of Manchester
Contributing Lecturer, Museum Studies and Archaeology programmes, University of Manchester
CLIENTS
Barker Langham * Cultural Innovations * Diriyah Foundation * ACCIONA Cultura * Mesheireb Museums * Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
INSTITUTIONS
UCL Qatar * Qatar National Research Fund * Swiss National Science Foundation * University of Manchester
Testimonials
Eric Langham, Founder, Barker Langham
“Karen brings novel, creative thinking to any challenge, with the perfect combination of skills to lead and realise cultural projects. She is intuitive, innovative, pragmatic and her clear strategic mindset is underpinned by academic rigour and an understanding of the needs of clients, stakeholders, and audiences.”
Maria Gulraize Khan, UNESCO Pakistan National Project Officer (Culture)
“Working with Dr Karen Exell was an invigorating and valuable learning experience for both the UNESCO project team and management of the six public sector museums in Punjab. Dr Karen, an exceptional academic, also has an innovative and practical strategic approach to museum development (which is rare to find!). She commanded the respect of the senior museum managers, board members and inspired the newer entrants. She is a great team player, has an adaptable attitude, and gelled so well with the local expert team. With her vast international professional experience, she understands local cultural contexts and nuances immediately being culturally respectful and inclusive.”
