Region should embrace museums as cradles of enlightenment
Saudi Arabia is set to be added to the world’s cultural tourism map thanks to the recent opening to the public of its first UNESCO World Heritage Site — the 2,000-year-old archaeological site of Mada’in Saleh. This ancient settlement is now slated to attract 2 million tourists annually by 2035, with easy online ticketing, bus services and local storytellers bringing its fascinating history to life.
The magnificent necropolis is attributed to the Nabataean people, who were prominent merchants living on a popular trade route connecting parts of Arabia and the Mediterranean between the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC and the 1st century AD. Today, Mada’in Saleh’s remaining structures include a cluster of 111 monumental tombs, water wells, and some 50 inscriptions from the pre-Nabataean period, including cave drawings. Archaeologists have acknowledged the Nabataeans’ pioneering feats in architecture and hydraulics, which are evident in the still-standing structures, ground-level cisterns, and natural water pipes protecting the tombs from erosion. It is a crossroads location, deriving its architectural styles from the Egyptian, Roman and Greek civilizations and with inscriptions in many ancient languages. It will be exciting to see the future developments in the AlUla region, with museums playing a central role in curating its distinctive heritage.
It is hard to resist the allure of a museum. In today’s modern world, the role of museums has evolved from inanimate storehouses into vibrant community spaces that enlighten society. As such, many cities proudly boast of their museums as essential experiences to be savored. A day at a museum yields so many positive effects. Enthusiasts can find museums that celebrate almost any interest, from contemporary art, natural history and space science to manga comics, botanic gardens and historic homes.
As custodians of timeless treasures from different civilizations, museums promote cultural understanding and appreciation, while showcasing the common ground in our connected human histories. For children, museums serve as a playground for their minds, encouraging their curiosity, instilling in them a solid civic education, impressing them with mesmerizing tours and talks, and inviting them to take part in delightful activities. Museums can also serve to inspire children’s potential career choices by teaching them about the many possibilities that may not be too obvious within their school or home settings. Indeed, many luminaries have said a museum visit was the spark that inspired their pursuance of a particular career.
The arts also improve physical and emotional well-being, allowing us to find consolation in certain works, savor their artistry, and immerse ourselves in creative workshops. Museums have the power to inspire positive social change by showcasing inspiring exhibits, such as supporting women in the arts, botanical expeditions, and scientific frontiers.
In recent years, museums have reached out to a wider audience by digitizing their collections, hosting informative virtual talks that revolve around their most popular items and offering online workshops. For example, London’s National Gallery has a prominent presence on YouTube and it streams videos by curators talking about famous works, such as Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant artworks and the 17th-century Dutch painter Rachel Ruysch’s floral paintings, as well as the restoration process. A quick look at the Google Arts & Culture site is enough to pique one’s fascination with the aesthetic world. It is a delightful digital platform, curating content from more than 2,000 leading museums, in addition to publishing interesting features and providing virtual tours.
Museums are a necessity for any modern city that is striving to enlighten its visitors on the possibilities of mankind. Middle Eastern societies, in particular, are currently contending with a number of difficult issues, such as gender inequality, socioeconomic challenges, and conflicts. Therefore, museums can be a haven for personal expression, thoughtful discourses, and cross-cultural understanding. For example, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization — home to more than 5,000 fascinating artifacts dating from the 1st century to the 20th century — demonstrates the significant contributions to mankind made by the Islamic world. The soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum is set to be the largest archaeological museum in the world, featuring 100,000 artifacts from ancient civilizations. And Dubai’s recently inaugurated Theatre of Digital Art introduces visitors to influential international painters who elevated the arts world, such as Claude Monet, Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and many others.
However, the region could certainly benefit from more investment in the museums sector. This can be done by establishing museums that cover a wide variety of themes, catering to local interests such as history, the arts, literature or science. Schools need to organize experiential educational programs with museums so students are able to witness first-hand the prominent and influential works related to their local heritage or global cultures. Educational opportunities in relevant specializations also need to be made available and promoted as career options. Additionally, museums in the region can engage with a wider audience via the digital sphere.
Through such efforts by museums, people all over the world can access timeless, beautiful collections as part of their personal journeys toward enlightenment.
Published in Arab News.
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