The Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) has successfully concluded its three-day celebration programme to mark the International Museum Day, which drew a huge turnout of visitors from across the UAE. The programme included a number of exciting and fun events as well as various educational and scientific workshops, organised by SMD’s 16 museums and presented by a group of specialists, school students, and folk bands, at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.

The closing session presented a panel discussion featuring a group of students from the Girls Centres in Sharjah entitled ‘Museums: A link between Generations’ on Sunday, 19 May. The speakers, whom have all taken part in the ‘Outstanding Guide’ program at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, shared their experiences as participants in the program. The discussion also covered topics of interest for the young generation and how the museum experience has inspired them in different ways. Finally, they spoke of their aspirations for the future of the museums in Sharjah and the UAE. The panel discussion was moderated by Fatima Musharbek, SMD Head of Community and Accessibility Programmes and Services.

Speaking on the occasion, Manal Ataya, Director General of the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), said, "Museums today must continue to evolve and communicate with their communities if they want to remain relevant, useful and successful. SMD continues to strive for excellence in providing an unique platform for dialogue and encourage creativity amongst community members."

She added, "We aim to deliver the highest quality of museums services for the people of the Emirate of Sharjah and all its visitors, through our exhibitions, programmes of learning, research and community outreach. This event comes in line with our goal to engage the community and achieve an understanding, appreciation and respect for Sharjah’s identity and for the value of its cultural and natural heritage.”

All of SMD’s 16 museums presented various events and several workshops that were specifically designed for the occasion of International Museum Day and in line with its theme “Museums: Memory + Creativity = Social Change”. Workshops included ‘Katateeb Boards’, organised by the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, ‘Shasha Boat Model’ by the Sharjah Maritime Museum, and ‘UAE Traditional Costume’ by the Sharjah Heritage Museum.

There were also two theatrical performances, titled ‘Our Heritage between Past and Present’ and ’Golden Age’, in addition to a number of small exhibitions presented by the participating museums, such as the ‘Urban Landscape Gallery’ from the Sharjah Art Museum, ‘Old and Modern Photography Equipment’ from Al Mahatta Museum, and ‘Al Yazerah Agricultural Tools’ from Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Qasimi in Kalba, and ‘The Art of Writing from its Early Beginnings to Modern Times’, from Al Eslah School.

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