Saudi Arabia celebrated the annual International Day of Museums on May 18. Director of the department of museums at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) Awad Al-Zahrani said this year's celebrations were held under the slogan " Museums in a Moving World" due to the importance of the cultural tourism and the role of museums in enlightening tourists about the cultural heritage of the county they are visiting.
The SCTA organized celebrations at the National Museum at King Abdul Aziz Historic Center in Riyadh and in other museums in various parts of the Kingdom.
The National Museum displayed the exhibit Saudi Archeological Masterpieces through the Ages, which had previously been held in various countries of the world including Russia, Germany, France, Spain and the United States.
Al-Zahrani said as part of the celebrations, there had been lectures and workshops to discuss issues pertaining to the promotion of museums and the best way of connecting the public to these museums.
"Through the organization of these celebrations, the SCTA aimed to interact with the programs of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), strengthening relationship with it and benefiting from its programs and technical support to boost museums in the Kingdom," he said.
Al-Zahrani said the SCTA was giving utmost attention to the museums, working on programs to make cultural changes in the outlook of society toward them and to develop a museum culture.
He pointed out that the SCTA has signed contracts to establish five new regional museums in Baha, Dammam, Tabuk, Asir and Hail.
Two museums, one on Islamic and national heritage in Jeddah and another on the Holy Qur’an in Madinah, were currently under construction. Existing museums in Al-Ola, Taima, Doumat Al-Jandal, Najran, Sabya and Al-Hofuf were also promoted.
Al-Zahrani said the SCTA had prepared the Al-Ghat Museum through the rehabilitation of the governorate palace there and is also completing the establishment of the Madain Saleh Museum.
He said the SCTA has started the restoration of a number of historic palaces in areas such as Al-Majmaah, Shaqra, Dhiba, Al-Dawadmi, Wadi Al-Dawasir and others which would be converted into museums.
He said the SCTA was paying particular attention to privately owned museums, providing them with temporary licenses until the new rules about museums and antiquities are issued. "We are also supplying private museums with technical support and repairing their archeological pieces which are considered to have heritage value," he said.
The celebrations of the international day of museums began in 1977 with a view to strengthening ties between museums and the public.
Museum culture to be fostered
