Sharjah Institute For Heritage Explores Cultural Cooperation With Lisbon's Directorate-General For Cultural Heritage

The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) delegation, led by Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, engaged with officials from Portugal's Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage in Lisbon. The discussions focused on potential collaborations in preserving intangible cultural heritage and exchanging expertise in folk arts, traditional crafts, and heritage celebrations. They also explored joint efforts in restoring heritage buildings and artefacts to enhance knowledge-sharing between the two institutions.

Dr Al Musallam emphasised the significance of this meeting in fostering new cultural cooperation avenues between Sharjah and Portugal. He highlighted that the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, recognised as a category 2 centre under UNESCO's auspices, actively seeks international partnerships to bolster global efforts in protecting and preserving cultural heritage.

Officials from Portugal's Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage expressed their appreciation for Sharjah’s contributions to Arab culture and shared human heritage. They welcomed collaboration with the Institute and showed eagerness to develop joint documentation programmes. Additionally, they were keen on exchanging expertise within UNESCO projects dedicated to both tangible and intangible heritage.

The meeting was part of the SIH delegation's visit to Portugal, coinciding with the inauguration of the Centre for Arab Studies at the University of Coimbra by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. This visit aimed to boost cultural cooperation between Sharjah and Portugal while exploring new joint heritage initiatives reflecting Sharjah’s vision and commitment to safeguarding human heritage.

This engagement provided an opportunity to strengthen intercultural dialogue and explore collaborative projects that align with Sharjah’s dedication to preserving human heritage. The discussions underscored both parties' readiness to work together on various initiatives that support cultural preservation efforts globally.

The collaboration aims not only to protect cultural assets but also to promote mutual understanding through shared heritage projects. By working together, both institutions hope to contribute significantly to global cultural preservation efforts while enhancing their respective roles in supporting diverse cultures worldwide.

With inputs from WAM