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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Preserving history focus of ‘day for museums’

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By Mai Al Abria — MUSCAT: May 17 - The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, celebrated the International Day for Museums that falls on May 18 every year. The ministry organised a workshop titled ‘Museums and the History of Conflicts’, and an exhibition displaying discovered artefacts on Wednesday. The two-day workshop at Bait al Zubair highlights the Sultanate’s role in preserving history and raising public awareness on the importance of museums, said Raya al Kindia, Director, Museums Directorate.


Raya said: “The ministry is focusing on combating illegal trafficking in cultural property. In the last few years, it has made efforts to monitor and reduce the phenomenon by implementing the Unesco Convention to prevent illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.”


“The destruction of archaeological sites, vandalism and the lack of preservation leads to a great loss to any country at the local and regional levels. There is no doubt the loss of man’s past, heritage and cultural and civilisational identity reflect negatively on present and future,” says Ibrahim al Muqbali, Department of Exploration and Archaeological Studies.


Ibrahim said the main risks facing archaeological sites in the Sultanate can be divided into two categories: natural hazards like heavy rainfall, erosion and land degradation. The second: human intervention such as theft, looting and smuggling by tourists as well as development projects such as roads and residential projects.


Every year, the Executive Council of International Council of Museums (ICOM) selects a theme for the event.


‘Museums and the History of Conflicts: A Narration of What is Not Said in Museums’, was chosen as the theme this year for highlighting the importance of museums to modern societies.


Museum collections reflect memories and models of history. Therefore, museums have become tools to teach human values and contribute to the creation of a shared destiny between all geopolitical and peaceful areas. Since 1977, countries around the world have been celebrating the International Day of Museums. In 2015, 35,000 museums in 145 countries around the world celebrated the occasion by holding different activities.


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