Riyadh – Asdaf News:
As part of “Europe Month 2023” activities from 9 May – 9 June, Princess Nourah University (PNU) and the European Union Delegation in Saudi Arabia held an expert lecture on “The Importance of Cultural Heritage and Museums for Our Societies.”
Francesca Cominelli and Mariachiara Guerra, Two well-known European specialists gave the lecture, at the university’s premisses, Tuesday.
The guest speaker offered perspectives on how the idea of cultural heritage is changing as well as how museums are transforming society globally. The discussion started with an examination of how the concept of cultural heritage has developed over the course of the 20th century, now including not just the preservation of monuments, buildings, and places but also taking into account intangible cultural assets and promoting community involvement.
The lecture also delved deeper into the growth of museums in society, looking at them from a historical and sociological standpoint. It also clarified the crucial relationship between museums and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations by highlighting powerful examples from prominent European museums.
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 life-long 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 was attended by students, academics, and other practitioners. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Cominelli and Guerra are now leading EU-funded training seminars for Saudi Museums Commission employees and the general public.
The lecture emphasized the EU’s dedication to encouraging interdisciplinary academic partnerships and strengthening its strategic alliance with the Gulf Cooperation Council and its Member States.
