Forum explores art’s role in safeguarding living heritage

MUSCAT: The “Sub-Regional Forum on Intangible Heritage and Art: Reality and Challenges” began in Muscat on Tuesday, aiming to enhance the role of fine art in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and to explore ways and measures that can contribute to preserving its elements. The forum opened under the auspices of Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture.
The two-day forum targets academics, researchers and specialists in the fields of intangible cultural heritage and the arts. It is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, alongside the Ministry of Education, represented by the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, in cooperation with the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech), represented by the Unesco Chair on World Heritage Management and Sustainable Tourism in the Arab Region.
Dr Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Abri, Secretary-General of the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, delivered a speech pointing to the launch by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on April 18, 2025, of the theme “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in the Context of Crises and Disasters”, emphasising the importance of protecting tangible and intangible heritage from the impacts of crises and disasters. He stressed that art represents a creative medium for documenting historical landmarks, customs, traditions, knowledge and cultural practices, as well as transmitting them to future generations; he highlighted the challenges facing this type of heritage, and noted the presence of cultural elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding under Unesco’s 2003 Convention.
He also pointed out the role of teachers in nurturing students’ talents and strengthening their connection to their cultural identity, and referred to the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts in safeguarding this heritage by inscribing 18 Omani cultural elements, both individual and joint, on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in addition to establishing the Unesco Sultan Haitham Prize for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2026.
The opening ceremony included a series of scientific papers. The first, titled “The Role of Sultan Haitham Prize for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s Civilisational Standing”, was presented by Maryam bint Nasser al Kharboushi, Director of the Cultural Identity Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. In the second paper, Aseela bint Saif al Manji from Sultan Qaboos University addressed “The Funerary Dan Art in the Wilayat of Mirbat in Dhofar Governorate: An Ethnomusicological Reading and Miniature Archival Design”, while Dr Awatif bint Said al Ghafri presented the artistic pairing project between Muscat and Al Batinah North governorates for emergency response to living heritage during crises and disasters.
Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, toured the accompanying exhibition, which featured fine artwork by students participating in the artistic pairing initiative between Unesco-affiliated schools in Muscat and Al Batinah North governorates. The initiative aims to employ fine arts in safeguarding living heritage and promote the exchange of expertise among teachers and supervisors within professional learning communities. The exhibition also included photographs of the winners of the regional competition “Impact in the Neighbourhood”, organised by the Unesco Chair on World Heritage Management and Sustainable Tourism in the Arab Region at GUtech.
The programme for the first day included a working session titled “The Role of Art in Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Sub-Regional Level”, moderated by Dr Younis bin Jamil al Numani, Director of the Heritage and Culture Department at the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Academics, experts and specialists in intangible cultural heritage from Unesco, ALECSO and the GCC participated in the session, with discussions centring on Unesco’s vision regarding the sustainability of living heritage safeguarding within its spatial contexts, periodic reporting on intangible cultural heritage in the Arab region, employing art in safeguarding cultural heritage in the State of Qatar, and oral history experiences and documentation on the International Day for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the United Arab Emirates.
The opening was attended by several officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, as well as experts and specialists in intangible cultural heritage from Unesco, ALECSO and GCC countries. The forum coincides with the celebration of the International Day for Intangible Cultural Heritage, which falls on October 17 each year.