EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia and the Princess Nourah University host an expert lecture on Cultural Heritage and Museums

EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia

Waqar Naseem Wamiq, Riyadh – The European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University successfully concluded an expert lecture titled “Importance of Cultural Heritage and Museums for Our Societies”. The lecture was delivered by two renowned European experts in the field and was held at the University premises in Riyadh on 30 May.

The guest lecture provided insights into the evolving concept of cultural heritage and the transformative role of museums in society from an international perspective. The session began with an analysis of how the notion of cultural heritage has expanded throughout the 20th century, embracing not only the preservation of monuments, buildings, and sites but also incorporating intangible cultural heritage and fostering community engagement.

The lecture further explored the transformative journey of museums in society, examining their evolution from historical and social perspectives. It also sheds light on the vital connection between museums and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing impactful examples from world-renowned European museums.

EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia

Commenting on the EU-Saudi cultural cooperation, the EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Patrick Simonnet said: “This interaction with the students at the prestigious Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University underlines further our commitment to enhance academic interactions and exchanges with our Saudi partners as well as contributes further to skills development of the Saudi youth. Recognizing the importance of youth empowerment and the lifelong development of skills, the European Union has designed 2023 as the European Year of Skills. We are pleased to share European expertise and best practices as Saudi Arabia accelerates its investments in the cultural sector.”

The lecture brought together a diverse audience, comprising students, academics, and other practitioners. It was delivered by Ms. Francesca Cominelli and Ms. Mariachiara Guerra, two European experts, who are currently conducting EU-funded training workshops for the staff of the Saudi Museums Commission and the wider interested public in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.

The lecture underscored the EU’s commitment to fostering educational collaborations and enhancing its strategic partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council and its Member States.

About the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain opened in Riyadh in 2004. The EU Delegation is also accredited to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Islamic Development Bank. The EU Delegation works on many areas of cooperation between the EU and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain as well as the GCC, including political dialogue, economic and trade issues, regional security, education as well as climate change, and transition to green energy/economy.

Read more about us on the EU Delegation’s website / Twitter: @EUintheGCC & @eusimonpa / Instagram: @EUinKSA/ Facebook: @EUinKSA

Waqar Naseem Wamiq is a Riyadh-based journalist and chief editor of Riyadh Xpress.
He can be reached at waqarabia@gmail.com