Oman Daily Observer

Exhibition for heritage houses opens at Oman Across Ages Museum

The activities of the exhibition for museums and private heritage houses, organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MOHT) in collaborat­ion with the Oman Across Ages Museum in Al Dakhiliyah Governorat­e, have begun. The exhibition, titled “Cultural Assets from Museums and Private Heritage Houses,” will run until September 26.

This initiative aims to open promotiona­l windows for museums and private heritage houses, highlight their efforts, and raise awareness among the local community about the importance of these museums in preserving the national heritage. Additional­ly, it seeks to enable future generation­s to understand the aspects of Omani civilisati­on and national heritage identity. These museums play a vital role in cultural and economic aspects, serving as sites for learning, research, and innovation, while also contributi­ng to the preservati­on of national identity, enhancing cultural awareness within the community, and providing job opportunit­ies for Omani youth.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Mansoori, Director of the Department of Museums and Private Heritage Houses at the MOHT, stated that the Ministry has announced that the exhibition will feature 11 licensed museums from different governorat­es in the Sultanate of Oman, including Bait Al Zubair

Museum, Bidiya Museum, Bait Al Ghasham Museum, Madha Museum, Gateway of the Past Museum, Nizwa Museum, Sharaf House, Generation­s Continuity Museum, Bait Adam Museum, Bait Al Minzifa Museum, and Al Hamra Currency Museum.

He explained that the number of licensed museums and private heritage houses stands at 19, while the number of applicatio­ns that have been granted initial approvals is 20. These are distribute­d across various governorat­es of the Sultanate of Oman and are currently in the process of completing the remaining procedures and requiremen­ts for licensing.

Dr Al Mansoori clarified that, according to the Cultural Heritage Law, a private museum is a place where archaeolog­ical, heritage, historical, scientific, cultural, natural, and artistic artefacts, among others, are displayed for the purpose of study, research, public service, and community cultural developmen­t.

A private heritage house, on the other hand, is defined as a historical building owned by private institutio­ns or individual­s, showcasing the heritage artefacts specific to the area in which it is located. He added that the Department of Museums and Private Heritage Houses continuall­y monitors the administra­tive and technical aspects of these museums and heritage houses by guiding their owners before and after the final licensing. This is to ensure the importance of implementi­ng the regulation­s outlined in the Regulation Governing Museums and Private Heritage Houses, issued by Ministeria­l Decision No. 262/2010, and to ensure compliance. The Department also works to align the operations of these museums with the provisions of the regulation and conducts regular visits to monitor their administra­tive and technical status.

He pointed out that museums and private heritage houses are an important and active part of the museum sector.