Manal Ataya, Director General of SMA, and Hazelle Page, Collections Manager at SMA, highlighted Sharjah’s approach in inspiring oral history as a heritage preservation practice, using Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) museum as a case study in the new book “Community Heritage in the Arab Region: Values and Practices.”
Edited by scholars and researchers Arwa Badran, Shatha Abu-Khafajah, and Sara Elliot, the book combines diverse case studies from the Middle East and North Africa with aims to provide a deeper understanding of the current trends in community heritage practices and to highlight challenges faced by professionals in this under-researched field.
The chapter focuses on Al Hisn Museum as one of the most significant heritage landmarks in the history of modern Sharjah, which reopened its doors in 2015 with a focus to facilitate community engagement in drafting and preserving the emirate’s history.
The fort-turned-museum captures Sharjah’s life since the 1800s and the history of the ruling family through a series of images, collections, and stories of the people.
Discussing the new chapter, Ataya said, “Oral stories form a significant part of our history, intertwined with academic research to shape our understanding of the world we live in, and particularly of our culture. Understanding this, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in preserving our country’s history and culture has long inspired the community to share their stories and be actively involved.”
Ataya added, “By sharing the significance of oral history in Sharjah’s heritage practice, we hope to provide a unique insight to the Arab community of heritage professionals and exchange knowledge towards creating innovative preservation practices.”
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