Sharjah: The fifth edition of the Arab Cultural Heritage Forum concluded Friday in Sharjah, UAE. Organized by the Regional Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Arab World, the forum was held under the theme: “The Role of Women and Youth in Preserving Cultural Heritage and Museum Innovation.”
According to Qatar News Agency, the forum participants recommended integrating heritage topics into school curricula at all levels and developing specialized vocational training programs for youth and women in the fields of preservation, documentation, and cultural entrepreneurship, as well as media and communication, to enhance heritage discourse and engage with the public.
They also called for promoting deep community awareness of heritage through the role of non-formal education, museums, and libraries, and launching initiatives targeting children and youth to strengthen the connection between generations and heritage values.
The recommendations also called for ensuring equal opportunities for women and youth in participation, leadership, and decision-making, documenting women’s professional contributions to heritage preservation, and integrating marginalized groups and displaced persons into heritage policies, considering heritage as a tool for peace and social cohesion.
The forum recommended supporting youth and women’s initiatives by providing foundational grants and enhancing marketing and cultural innovation skills with the aim of transforming heritage into a sustainable economic resource.
In the field of documentation and digital innovation, participants called for the establishment of unified regional archives and electronic libraries and the use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and spatial documentation in accordance with strict ethical standards.
They also emphasized the importance of preparing periodic reports on the status of heritage and documenting emerging cultural initiatives, as well as the need to combine the expertise of young people with experience in technology with the knowledge of experts working in the field of heritage to promote innovation and develop effective digital tools.