The Saudi National Museum: Preserving Culture & Celebrating Events

With its representation of the Kingdom’s history, culture, and legacy, the Saudi National Museum stands out as the unique face of Saudi Arabia, emphasising its historical authenticity and foundations. A few days ago, the Saudi National Museum took part in several events and activities in honour of International Museum Day.

The museum features a wide range of exhibits depicting Saudi Arabia’s ancient civilisation, traditional crafts that showcase the depth of Saudi heritage, folklore, and artwork that reflect the culture and heritage of the Saudi people.

In addition to being an exhibition venue, the museum hosts cultural and artistic events open to people of all ages. Enhancing communication with Saudi authenticity and educating tourists about the Kingdom’s rich history are the goals of these events.

Activity at the Saudi National Museum

The Saudi National Museum opened its doors 27 years ago. From Earth to the moon, from prehistoric times to the present, the museum has been transporting visitors through its halls since 1999.

The Saudi National Museum commemorated International Museum Day this May by holding some engaging workshops and events that emphasised creativity and legacy. On this particular day, the Saudi National Museum sought to give guests unique experiences so they could fully comprehend the ideas that were presented.

The shadow theatre hosted an event that simulated how museums can influence future developments while conserving the past. Additionally, visitors can wear VR technology to view artefacts that are currently inaccessible to them.

This encounter brought to light the recently found Al-Faw artefacts in Saudi Arabia, which are not currently open to tourists. This allows visitors to experience the real thing as if they were physically present. The museum also features a dynamic artistic element that imitates dances, akin to those of the Asir people in the south.

Some rhythms that evoke southern music and symbolise their culture and heritage have been incorporated into museum spaces because it is difficult to preserve this legacy in a museum and make it static.

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Remarks from Guests at the International Museum Day Event

One of the visitors conveyed her awe of the museum, calling it a fabulous representation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage. She also mentioned how the Ancient Kingdoms section gave her a lot of ideas, calling it impressive and a potent window into the past. Moreover, she was able to learn about the historical shifts that have taken place in the Kingdom from the past to the present, thanks to this experience.

Notably, she commended His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to boost the cultural industry and draw tourists, as well as the many incredible changes he is enacting in the nation, which will eventually be mirrored in the museum.

Likewise, another visitor mentioned that the museum had a lot of items she had never seen in her life. The extraction process of Saudi Arabia’s most famous products, oil and fuel, was fascinating to watch, she said.

She was even more shocked when she saw a meteorite at the Saudi National Museum for the first time in her life. During her speech, she also mentioned how strange and amazing the virtual tour through time was, how it helped her understand the construction of civilisation as a whole, and how it taught her about the origins of Arabic writing, which she called wonderful.

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The Kingdom’s Museums Commission’s Work

The Saudi government agency in charge of the Kingdom’s museum industry is the Museums Commission. The Commission is active in preserving cultural heritage, constructing museums, and striving to develop captivating experiences that follow international best practices to attract tourists from the Kingdom and beyond. It also works to ensure that everyone has access to culture and heritage.

Enhancing the role of museums and helping to create a more profound understanding of Saudi history and heritage are two goals that the Commission has for the future of museums. These goals intersect with its vision of offering an innovative and revitalising educational and cultural experience.

The Commission announced that 11 regions of the Kingdom—Qassim, Al-Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Jazan, and Al-Baha—will have regional museums built as part of its efforts to preserve authenticity and heritage. All of these museums will present aspects of the national identity under the banner of “Our Saudi Narrative.”

To sum up, the Saudi National Museum offers a venue for raising a range of significant queries, creating opportunities for insightful responses that not only offer data but also clarify the uniqueness and authenticity of Saudi history and culture.

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