In a press conference held at ALECSO headquarters on July 5, 2022, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, stated that the Cultural Guide program “has created a significant momentum in our Arab museums, and has given Cultural Guides the opportunity to launch important initiatives”.
The Director-General indicated that this program, which is “one of the key components of the ‘ALECSO Ambassador Extraordinary for Arab Culture’ initiative, has received wide media coverage,” and has attracted the interest of relevant professionals, students, specialists, and civil society organizations.” This, he added, “bears testimony to the originality of the idea and the perspicacity and clearsightedness of H.H. Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan Al Nahyan, and her keen awareness of the needs of Arab museums and of their managers and visitors.”
The Director-General noted that “the significant initiatives and various activities undertaken by Cultural Guides as part of this program do foretell a prosperous future for our Arab museums, as they help remove the stereotyped image associated with museums and turn them into spaces for cultural action, creativity and exchange, offering opportunities of participation for all, including children, women, people with special needs, and all those who are interested in culture and heritage. Mindful of this, ALECSO did not hesitate to adopt and support this program, making available its large experience and expertise in coordinating joint Arab action in order to provide all conditions for its success.”
The Director-General expressed hope that annual meeting be regularly held, bringing together Cultural Guides in Arab countries “to showcase their projects and initiatives and disseminate their civilizational message.” He underlined the need to work for heightening the interest of Arab young generations in museums and thus increasing their attachment to and pride in their culture and heritage.
The Director-General commended, on this occasion, the high level of cooperation and coordination between ALECSO and the “Ambassador Extraordinary for Arab Culture” initiative which the Organization can highly benefit from to promote its bright image through the various activities involved in it.
It is noteworthy that 9 Arab States (Tunisia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco and Qatar) participated in the Cultural Guide competition for the best field activities (implemented from April to June 2022) with the aim of encouraging people to visit museums and archeological sites and monuments.
