Organisation of Regional Workshop on Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites in the Arab Region
The Arab region stands as one of the world’s richest areas in cultural and natural heritage, a reflection of its unique identity, history, and culture. In pursuit of preserving this invaluable heritage, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) inaugurated on Sunday, 28 April 2024, the Regional Workshop on the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites in the Arab Region, in collaboration with the International Center for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites (WHIPIC). The event was attended by experts and managers of World Heritage sites from the Arab region.
The first day of the workshop, spanning three consecutive days, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Regional centre and the international center. His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, represented the former, while Mr. Jaesoon Lee, Deputy Director General of WHIPIC, represented the latter.
This memorandum aims to enhance cooperation between the two institutions through various projects and programmes to strengthen and develop the capabilities of professionals in the field of World Heritage in Arab countries. Additionally, it will encourage the exchange of information, knowledge, research, and constructive dialogue with Arab member states of the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
The term “interpretation and presentation of World Heritage sites” encompasses all methods and tools aimed at promoting the Outstanding Universal Value and other significant values of these sites to all stakeholders, including officials, experts, and individuals, thereby contributing to the overall efforts of preserving these sites for future generations.
The workshop will address topics such as defining the processes of interpretation and presentation of World Heritage sites, the role of interpretation and presentation in heritage site management, and ways to enhance the participation of local communities in interpreting and presenting the components of heritage sites. Furthermore, participants will study a case of one of the most important World Heritage sites in Bahrain, namely the “Pearling, testimony of an Island Economy.”
