We are celebrating the success of the first phase of the "Experts Program," a year-long collaboration between ICCROM-Sharjah and the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS) and the Ministry of Culture (MoC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The initiative was a comprehensive capacity-building training on International Cultural Heritage Conventions and other Cultural programmes that qualified specialists in UNESCO Conventions and programmes. It brought together 42 experts, mostly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman). The participants — from various institutions, commissions and higher education working in the field of cultural heritage — underwent a rigorous selection process.
These experts participated in a series of modules developed by international experts on UNESCO Conventions, as well as thematic modules on industrial heritage and the creative cities program.
The programme came to its conclusion with a final event attended by MoC representative Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Bulahid, Secretary General of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and officials from other partner institutions.
Experts Program participants were honoured with certificates of completion. Additionally, a roundtable of experts, including Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM-Sharjah, addressed the importance of building capacity in cultural heritage sectors and how this can be integrated into national strategies.
The second phase of the Experts Program is scheduled for the second half of 2023. Stay tuned for more information!