SHARJAH, UAE – The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) approved recommendations regarding the policy of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), during its 10th session.
Ali Mehd Al Suwaidi, SCC Chairman chaired the session.
The council’s work began with the ratification of the minutes of the ninth session, after which the SCC discussed its recommendations of the SIH policy.
The council called for making SIH’s heritage publications available to the blind using Braille.
It said that SIH should reach students and also market books.
The council called for paying attention to the profession of craftsmen and to ensure that it does not die out.
It said that a database of craftsmen should be prepared and that they should be granted licenses to practice their crafts. This would also to ensure the crafts continuity and sustainability.
The recommendations also emphasized the importance of preserving local heritage by offering bachelor’s and master’s programs in the subjects.
The SCC called for preventing the introduction of modern musical instruments into Al Razfa, as these deviate from the traditional folk art.
The SCC has also called for taking advantage of technology, such as virtual reality, to educate young people about heritage.
The recommendations stressed on the need to document oral narratives and history and work on collecting all such narratives of events and places, and to archive them for preserving heritage.
The SCC also highlighted the necessity of preparing the second row of leaders in the SIH.
The recommendations emphasized on organizing specialized programs for young people for practicing traditional arts.
The SCC said that the Supreme Council for Family Affairs must be involved in SIH work.