“Ambassadors” exhibition inaugurated at Sharjah Art Museum

Mr Abdullah Al-Owais, Director General of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, inaugurated the “Ambassadors” exhibition at Sharjah Art Museum, organized by Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) in co-operation with Goethe-Institut (GI) and Robert Bosch Stiftung. Al-Owais toured the exhibition accompanied by senior representatives from Sharjah Museums Department and government officials.

The exhibition held from May 20 to July 31 is part of SMD’s celebration of the International Museums Day under the theme “Museums for Social Harmony”, to spread awareness of the vital role museums play in social development. According to the International Council of Museums (ICOM), museums "are in a position to address the urgent need for safeguarding cultural diversity and bio-diversity as the common heritage of humanity.” 

The “Ambassadors” exhibition explores the concept of museums as mirrors of a given society’s culture. Curators from SMD’s 18 museums have composed, for the first time, a group show following a workshop that evaluated the complex and different interpretations of social harmony as represented in the objects chosen by each curator.  

“This year’s social harmony theme is important both for humanity as a whole as well as for highlighting the value of our diverse cultures. The basis of social harmony lies in cultural dialogue, mutual respect and the celebration of our differences, which is reiterated through the Ambassadors exhibition,” said Manal Ataya, Director General of SMD. 

Susanne Sporrer, Director of Goethe-Institut Gulf-Region, said: “This exhibition reflects the fruitful cooperation between the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Goethe-Institut and the Sharjah Museums Department. The idea to produce new relations between the rich and diverse museums of Sharjah and Germany has created a groundbreaking intercultural project. Since the German cultural institute Goethe-Institut Gulf Region is dedicated to encourage the exchange and the understanding between the cultures I am looking forward to intensifying this cooperation in future. I am very glad that the Goethe-Institut could participate in this process and congratulate SMD’s to realize this event that highlights the humanitarian and cultural bonding.”  

A panel discussion entitled “Social Harmony from a Curators’ Perspective” was held alongside the exhibition. Participants included the curators from each museum. The four-step workshop offered an overview of the concept of social harmony with a time-space journey highlighted through the Holy Quran, which underscores the need for social harmony, peace, love and mercy. 

The Sharjah Museums Department, established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, aims to promote the emirate’s rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture. For more information on the Sharjah Museums Department, please visit www.sharjahmuseums.ae.