Sharjah Museums Authority Opens Registration For SAWA Cross-Cultural Learning Conference

Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) has opened registration for the hybrid "SAWA: A Decade of Cross-Cultural Museum Learning" Conference 2024. This event celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Arab-German SAWA Museum Studies Programme, aiming to inspire innovative practices among emerging museum professionals.

The conference, scheduled for 4th-5th November, 2024, will be held at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum and streamed live online. It promises a rich experience for museum professionals, researchers, students, and enthusiasts. Attendees will gain insights from global leaders and educators in the museum and cultural sectors.

Participants can expect an extensive array of subjects through panel discussions, keynote speeches, workshops, and presentations. These sessions aim to foster dialogue, exchange, and collaboration among museum professionals. Key themes include international cooperation between museums and cultural entities to enhance standards and services.

The panels will also provide insights from past SAWA Museum Studies Program participants on how the program has influenced their careers and practices. Discussions will cover museological topics such as interpretation, curation, and curatorial strategies in exhibition spaces.

The conference will address creating inclusive and engaging experiences for diverse museum audiences. It will shed light on using technologies like augmented reality in museum spaces. This hybrid format allows participants to join either online or in person at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum.

This milestone event is organized in partnership with Crescent Group as the Strategic Partner and supported by the Consulate General of Germany. The award-winning SAWA Museum Studies Programme is a pioneering initiative offering professional qualification opportunities for emerging museum professionals.

Programme Leadership

The collaborative programme is led by Sharjah Museums Authority along with Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Goethe-Institute Gulf Region, and University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW). It is curated by a distinguished team of Arab and European educators who emphasize reciprocal learning and diverse museological practices in MENA region and Europe.

This conference represents an unparalleled opportunity for networking and professional growth within the museum community. By bringing together experts from around the world, it aims to inspire innovative practices that can transform how museums operate globally.

With inputs from WAM