On November 27, ICCROM’s Director-General, Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, met with H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Almusallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and former ICCROM Council member. The meeting focused on advancing their shared commitment to cultural heritage conservation and community empowerment.
The Director-General expressed her gratitude to the Chairman for providing the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Centre with its beautiful and functional premises, which play a vital role in supporting ICCROM’s regional activities. They explored collaboration opportunities, particularly in leveraging heritage conservation to boost creative economies, such as handicrafts and artisanal production, and enhancing local livelihoods.
Sharjah’s vibrant heritage community and its innovative approach to museums as spaces for creation were also discussed, along with ICCROM’s expertise in museum storage solutions. They further considered ways to address the climate crisis using the Sharjah Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities and identified ideas for joint initiatives.
The meeting underscored the value of collaborative efforts to preserve cultural heritage while empowering communities, laying the groundwork for impactful future initiatives.