The Museums Authority announced today the launch of its strategy, which it will use to develop the Kingdom’s museum sector in all its components and organizational and operational aspects, and to support and empower practitioners and investors in the sector, in order to achieve the goals of the Ministry of Culture and the cultural objectives of Vision 2030 in its cultural aspects.
Dr. Stefano Carboni, CEO of the Authority, explained that the strategy seeks to bring about tangible development in a vital and important sector such as the museum sector through a clearly defined vision, mission, and objectives aimed at developing the sector, enhancing its content and programs, empowering its staff, and creating an environment that develops Saudi museums and elevates them to become true cultural platforms that provide diverse educational content and attract local and international audiences. The Museums Authority’s strategy is aligned with the National Strategy for Culture and Vision 2030. The strategy defines the value chain across four main pillars: the social and economic output of the museum sector; its contribution to the cultural sphere; theactivities it will offer, and its enabling tools, which include talent development, funding, supportive partnerships, licenses, and regulatory frameworks. The strategy also addresses the key role museums play in social and economic development by planning to introduce new and diverse categories of museums across the Kingdom.
The strategy also defined its vision, stipulating the establishment of national museums as inspiring destinations and catalysts for cultural and community engagement among citizens, residents, and visitors. Its mission, which it seeks to achieve, is to protect from all over the world, promoting it, and making it available for study, education, and recreation—thereby securing the Kingdom’s place on the global cultural stage with the highest standards of quality. The strategic objectives comprised 12 goals: enriching institutions and collections, enhancing the value of existing heritage content, expanding the reach of museums through high-quality institutions, increasing museum visitation rates among residents and tourists, increasing the sector’s overall budget, and improving spending efficiency, in addition to establishing distinctive museums that are notin major cities and local museums in regions with rich and diverse heritage; protecting and displaying collections in accordance with the highest standards; developing educational and recreational experiences that are accessible to all; attracting museum visitors and striving to earn the recognition and appreciation the sector deserves both within and outside the Kingdom, as well as developing a qualified and experienced workforce for museums, ensuring the provision of necessary financial support, encouraging third-sector participation, and establishing partnerships to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the museum sector and enable it to add value; and issuing licenses and regulatory guidelines to ensure the implementation of comprehensive quality standards.
The strategy contributes to the development of existing museums, such as the National Museum and the Al-Masmak Palace Museum, and will also work to establish a large number of museums across the Kingdom—from Arar to Najran and from Abha to Dammam—by 2024, in addition to several large and small museums in the coming years through 2030. Among the first museums to be established are the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah and the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh. A temporary location will also be designated for the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art in the new Jax neighborhood of Dir’iya until the Grand Museum opens in the . Meanwhile, medium-term plans involve opening pioneering museums such as the Royal Arts Complex Museum, the Digital Arts Museum, and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman International Calligraphy Center Museum. The goal is to create a healthy environment in which Saudi museums can grow and develop organically by distributing them across the Kingdom, diversifying their specializations and collections, attracting local and international audiences, developing strong organizational visions and educational programs, and building a new generation of museum professionals, and creating commercial opportunities to diversify revenue streams.
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