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Maldives to establish regional museums

Ahmed Aiham
19 May 2019, MVT 12:33
Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon. PHOTO: AHMED NISHAATH / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
19 May 2019, MVT 12:33

Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon, on Saturday, declared that plans and discussions were underway to develop regional museums across the country.

During the minister's speech on occasion of the International Museum Day, she stated that establishing branches of the national museum, regional museums and private museums would nurture a sense of pride amongst Maldivians towards the country's traditions, history and heritage.

"...the regional museums will play a key role in the sustainable development of the country", said Yumna.

"It is our responsibility to protect and conserve these assets for the current and upcoming generations".

A regional museum was recently opened in Laamu Atoll in December 2018.

According to Minister Yumna, the development of museums will bring about economic growth via the tourism industry.

Moreover, Yumna stated that museums are not only to display historical assets but rather an institution where information regarding a society can be accessible for visitors and researchers alike.

As per the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the "International Museum Day 2019 will focus on the new roles of museums as active actors in their communities". The day has been celebrated since 1977 on May 18, annually.

The theme for International Museum Day 2019 was 'Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition'.

Established on the National Day of the Maldives, the first National Museum of the country was opened on November 11, 1952, by the Prime Minister at the time, Mohamed Amin Didi, in capital Male'.

However, the building was later abolished by President Mohamed Nasheed and re-opened on Maldives' Independence Day, July 26, 2010, at the site of the Maldivian Royal Palace compound dating back to the 17th century.

The National Museum contains objects of interest from Maldives’ long history. One section of the Museum is devoted to artefacts from Maldives’ pre-Islamic past. Some of the objects, many of them of Buddhist origin, displayed date back from 4th to the 10th century AD.

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