RIYADH: An EU-backed museum management and development training program aims to help promote cultural heritage preservation in Saudi Arabia.

Museum professionals, students, and other interested parties recently took part in three workshops hosted by the EU delegation in Riyadh and the Saudi Museums Commission.

EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Christophe Farnaud said: “The EU is renowned for its commitment to preserving Europe’s rich cultural heritage and fostering the arts and creative industries.

“We are honored by the trust placed in us by the Ministry of Culture and the Museums Commission to contribute to the development of expertise in the Saudi museum sector.”

Dr. Taghreed Alsaraj, the commission’s general manager of education and talent development, said: “We are very pleased with our collaboration with the EU in designing and delivering the museum management training program. We look forward to sustaining this collaboration.”

The initiative, which got underway in February, has been designed to develop the Saudi cultural sector, establish sustainable museums, and improve efficiency levels in line with Vision 2030 targets.

More than 100 delegates participated in the sessions which were led by European industry experts, with contributions from top officials from leading institutions such as the Egyptian Museum in Turin, the Louvre Conservation Center in Lievin, France, the Prado Museum in Madrid, and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics in Florence.

In a statement, the EU Delegation said the collaboration with the Museums Commission had exceeded expectations and laid strong foundations for future cooperation, while also helping to meet EU strategic partnership goals aimed at strengthening links with the Gulf Cooperation Council and its member states.