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The Bahrain National Museum hosted, on 18 May 2022, an exciting ceremony heralding the kick off the activities scheduled by of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities to celebrate the International Museum Day, held this year under the theme “The Power of Museums”. The ceremony was launched in the presence of His Excellency His Excellency Salim Mohammed Said Al Mahrouqi, the Minister of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transport and Communications, and H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director General of Culture and Arts at the authority, as well as a significant diplomatic presence.

Speaking for the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said: “Our museums are new cultural beacons, bringing different cultures together to shine fresh light on the shared stories of humanity, promoting our historical cultural valuable assets and they preserve archaeological acquisitions and discoveries that mirror our deeply-rooted civilizational outcomes”. H.E added: “On the International Museum Day, which we celebrate annually, we honor our museology institutions by planning an intensive program and events of exhibitions and activities in which the public participates. It reflects our keenness to portray museums as places for creating a cultural meetings and encounters that would certainly enhance national identity and promote our civilizational achievements at the local, regional and global levels”.

The beginning was with the inauguration of the book "“50 Objects from the Bahrain National Museum”, whereby H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa welcomed His Excellency Mr. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Omani Heritage and Culture, and the attendees. She stressed the importance of celebrating International Museum Day, noting that the book "“50 Objects from the Bahrain National Museum”, is the fruit of an initiative undertaken by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities during the COVID-19 pandemic, entailing the online display of an artwork or an archaeological wonder every month via social media. H.E thanked all members of the book publication work team, asserting that any successful cultural achievement should be the fruit of effort and teamwork.

The book sheds light on a group of archaeological collection of the museum, with the aim of introducing the deep archaeological and historical legacy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The book includes photos of 50 artifacts dating back to different periods of Bahrain’s ancient history: the Dilmun period 2250-400 BC, Tylos period 400 BC.450 AD, Islamic period 629-1783 AD, along with a group of Bahraini heritage collection.

The book launch was followed by the opening of the exhibition "50 years in the History and Development of the Bahrain Airport (1927-1977) exhibition, which gives the visitor a short summary of fifty years of the history of the development of Bahrain Airport through a unique collection of historical photos, documents, old maps and documentary films. In addition, another second exhibition was also inaugurated; “The Pearling Path Competition”. The later showcases a series of artworks and paintings implemented by a number of children and young people showing their skills in drawing, sculpture, handicrafts, graphic design and filmmaking through the competition launched by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education within the BACA’s slogan for the year 2021, “The Pearling Path.”

In addition, on International Museum Day, the doors of the Bahrain National Museum and the Bahrain Fort Site Museum welcomed, on May 18th, their visitors exceptionally with free admissions, and visitors were allowed to photograph in the authorized venues. Our valuable visitors also enjoyed a selection of delicious menu recipes specially made for the International Museum Day celebration at Darseen café, with an exclusive 10% discount for the whole, tasting a new menu that reflects the richness of Bahraini cuisine.

In addition, the scheduled events to held also Bahrain National Museum, on 20 May, 2022, will include five free of charge workshops, which will be organized at Bahrain National Museum on 20 May 2022, namely, Make your own Dilmun Pottery, whereby participants will learn how to make and design a Dilmunian style jar in the traditional Dilmun way (age group: 8-15 years -old). In “Write in Cuneiform” workshop, participants will learn cuneiform system of writing, the oldest forms of used during Dilmun Civilization era, known as the Dilmun system of writing (age group: 7-10 years -old), Make your own Dilmunian Seal, whereby, participants will make a Dilmun Seal that represents and interprets their favorite occupation or profession if they had lived during the Dilmun era (age group: 8-15 years-old). For attending these amazing entertaining workshops and taking part, participants are requested to register online via BACA’s website.

Furthermore, other creative cultural events will also be held at Bahrain National Museum on 20 May 2022, accordingly: “ Storytelling Adventures at the Museum: famous storyteller Fatima will keep the children’s suspense and imagination vivid by telling them a story of new and interesting adventures at the Bahrain National Museum.( Age group: 5-7 years-old). “A Tour at Bahrain National Museum”, whereby, for an hour, participants will have the chance to learn more about Bahrain National Museum by giving them an educational entertainment tour ( for all age groups). In the “ Scavenger Hunt at the Museum”, the Bahrain National Museum organizes a treasure hunt competition, whereby participants will learn more about the Kingdom of Bahrain history and different key important historical periods. The winner will be awarded one of the competition’s prizes. (Age group: 18 and above). In addition, there will be a movie night: screening “a Night at the Museum” movie, Part 1 & 2 (for all age groups), as well as “Winner of the children’s competition “Best Museum Photography Award”, which will be announced.

You can find out more details about the activities of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities on International Museums Day through the authority’s website www.culture.gov.bh and by following the authority’s accounts on social media at the account @CultureBah.

Worth to mention that International Museum Day is a day established by the International Council of Museums in 1977 with the aim of emphasizing the importance of museums as the living memory of peoples, as well as noting their role in “providing the opportunity for museum professionals to communicate with the public and alerting them to the challenges facing museums.” If, according to the definition of the International Council of Museums, they become institutions in the service and development of society.” The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO” celebrates this annual occasion with the support of the International Council of Museums, under many themes, with this year’s slogan being “The Power of Museums”.