The Museums Commission organized yesterday an open meeting at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia entitled "The Future of Museums in the Kingdom", within the framework of the celebration of International Museum Day 2025, which is held this year under the slogan "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Societies", and coinciding with the designation of the current year for handicrafts.

The session, which was held in the National Museum hall, witnessed the participation of HRH Princess Haifa bint Mansour bin Bandar, Chairperson of the Saudi National Committee of the International Council of Museums, and the Director General of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Laila Al-Ghurair, amidst a presence of those interested, specialists and workers in the cultural sector.

The session was opened by Laila Al-Ghurair with a speech in which she stressed that this meeting comes in a cultural occasion, noting that museums are no longer just incubators for historical pieces, but have become vibrant spaces that contribute to shaping awareness and activating the role of museums in societal change.

In her opening remarks, HRH Princess Haifa bint Mansour explained that Saudi museums face varying challenges, stressing that the true standard of success for any museum is the level of its community participation.

She pointed to the importance of the museum's balance between preserving historical identity and innovating modern display methods that keep pace with audience transformations.

The session addressed a number of main axes, most notably ways to develop the museum sector in the Kingdom, as Her Highness stressed the importance of building a flexible legislative and financial system that enables museums to achieve sustainability and enhance their independence, in addition to supporting initiatives that make museums vital spaces that serve various groups of society, from children to the elderly, and contribute to consolidating their presence as vibrant cultural centers.

Her Highness discussed the importance of developing the museum work system in the Kingdom by redefining professional concepts and building national capabilities through specialized training programs and effective partnerships with local and international universities, which contributes to qualifying Saudi competencies in various fields such as restoration, museum management, museum design, and other qualitative specialties that support the future of the sector.

The session raised a discussion about the relationship of the museum with its audience, as the two participants discussed the necessity of involving the visitor in designing exhibitions and presenting content through interactive programs and community initiatives, such as inviting the public to display their possessions for temporary periods inside the museum, and providing innovative educational programs, including learning the Arabic language through manuscripts.

The meeting concluded with a question posed by Laila Al-Ghurair to HRH Princess Haifa bint Mansour about the features of the "museum of the future" from her point of view, as Her Highness presented a comprehensive vision of a museum that is independent and inspiring in the service of its local community, renewed in its programs, and encourages cultural exchange and knowledge transfer, tells the story of the nation and the stories of ancestors, and combines authenticity and innovation.

Her Highness stressed the importance of the museum maintaining historical roots and being a collective space that embraces all groups of society from youth and the elderly alike.

This meeting comes within a series of events and activities launched by the National Museum and the Museums Commission to celebrate International Museum Day, which aims to shed light on museums as dynamic platforms for dialogue and community interaction, and to enhance their role as engines of sustainable cultural and economic development in the Kingdom.